Hey, guys! This is the last part of Mind Games, next week is the epilogue, and then we'll plunge into the next episode. Keep in mind that this chapter takes place before "A New Girl in Town". And, as always, enjoy!

P.S. To those of you who were wondering if Leo and Ara were going to switch brains, it's a no. Donnie and April provided more than enough gender-twisting for one episode. :P

P.P.S. Sorry if there are any spelling or grammar mistakes. My spell check has NOT been cooperating lately.

Mind Games Pt. 7

Raph

"Ouch! Eek! Ooph!" Raph hopped from rooftop to rooftop, wincing each time he landed, making pain shoot up his bad leg. Man, he couldn't wait to get back into his own body...

Everyone else but him was back to normal, and now it was his turn. His theory of how the guns worked had been correct: think of someone and shoot yourself in the head. Just make sure you had the right gun, or things could get messy. Right now Raph's mission was to find a good place to switch minds with Shredder. His original plan had been to jump in a pit of snakes or crocodiles or something and THEN switch, but Leo hadn't exactly given it his stamp of approval. Too risky, blah, blah, blah. Oh well.

Raph skidded to a stop as he reached his destination and gazed out at the lapping waters of the Atlantic that stretched before him. It was the perfect plan. Raph walked up a dock and bent over, looking at the waves beneath him. Donnie had said that water would destroy the gun, so he held it out over the dock and aimed it at his face. Hopefully the shock of the bullet would cause him to drop the brain gun into the waves. At the last moment, Raph remembered his helmet, so he slipped it off and put the gun back into position.

Raph stared at the opening of the gun. It was pitch black, a cold eye of death. Raph scowled in frustration, gripping the trigger tighter. It wasn't a cold eye of death, dammit! It wouldn't kill him; it would HELP him. But his body obviously didn't know that. His finger went stiff, refusing to pull. You have so much to live for! His whole body screamed in protest. Raph bit his lip, shaking his head to clear his thoughts. He had to stop being so ridiculous and just do this. Three, two...

"No, father!" Something came barreling into him from behind, sending Raph tumbling towards the water. He had just enough wits about him to toss the gun blindly behind him as he made contact with the freezing ocean. Raph thrashed and floundered in the water, struggling to stay afloat with all of his heavy armour on. What the shell had that been? More importantly, where was the gun? WHERE WAS THE GUN?! His eyes flew to the dock, and he let out a sigh of relief when he saw that by some miracle the gun had landed on it, not in the water.

Whoever it was that had tumbled into the water with him came up and grabbed him by the shoulders. Raph sank below the surface, and for a horrible couple of seconds, he was sure he wouldn't be able to get back up. But his turtle talents with swimming, even if he wasn't a turtle at the moment, took over. He managed to break the surface, coughing and sputtering. "Father, you can't do this! You can't kill yourself! I need you!" Father? Raph's water-clogged brain managed to process the word, and he stared at the panicked girl in front of him. Shredder had a daughter?

The girl had short black hair, and smeared red paint surrounded her big, golden-brown eyes. She might have actually been sort of pretty if it weren't for the fact that she was their mortal enemy's... "Please, father! Don't—"

"Okay, okay, I get it!" Raph snarled, pushing himself away. "Quit drowning me, will ya?" He thrashed over to the dock and hauled himself up.

The girl was right behind him. "So that's it? You're just not going to kill yourself now?"

"I was never going to kill myself, you stupid girl!" Raph snapped as he struggled to his feet.

"You were holding a gun to your head!"

Raph opened his mouth to explain, then realized she would never believe him. He didn't have time for this. "You know what? Never mind." Raph stooped over and grabbed the gun. "Leave me alone!"

He turned to leave, but the girl snatched the gun from his grasp. "Oh, no, you don't!" She threw it towards the water, but Raph lunged forward and caught it just in time.

He turned on her, fuming. "What was that for? Do you have any idea how IMPORTANT this is?!"

The girl's chin wobbled, but it straightened so fast Raph wondered if he had imagined it. "No gun is as important as your life," she stated, standing up to her full height and looking at him with fierce conviction.

Raph paused for a moment, then shook his head. "You're right. I'm sorry, really. Let's go home." The girl nodded and turned to leave, so Raph used that moment to make his move. He launched himself off of the dock and brought the barrel of the gun to his face.

Raph pulled the trigger and felt something thwap against his head the split second before he hit the waves. Blackness enveloped him, and water filled his lungs as he lost control of Shredder's body. Raph instinctively gasped for air, only to find his mouth taped shut. He wasn't in the water anymore. No, thank heaven, he was home. "Mmmm!" he managed, twisting in his bonds. Uh-oh. He hadn't exactly thought this far. How would his brothers know it was him, especially since he was bound, blindfolded, and gagged?

"Guys! It's me! I'm not Shredder!" he exclaimed, only it came out more like: "Gauus! Ith mmm! Mm nuut thddaa!" Just as he was finishing the announcement, there was a tug on the mask surrounding his eyes, and the next thing he knew, he was looking at Mikey.

His orange-banded brother studied him for a moment, then broke into a grin. "Raph! You're back!" he reached up and tore the duct tape from his face with one jerk.

Raph yelped. "Watch the scales, Mikey!"

Mikey grinned and sat back on his heels. "Sorry 'bout that."

Raph scowled. "You don't LOOK sorry. Let me go already."

Mikey shook his head. "You could be Shredder. I better not."

"Oh, COME ON, Mikey, do I sound like Shredhead?"

Mikey turned up his nose with a dignified huff. "You don't, but just to be extra sure, you have to answer a question. What's your turtle's name?"

Raph groaned, rolling his eyes. "Spike."

"And how often do you sing Spike lullabies at night?"

Raph reddened. "Never. I don't..."

"Oh, yes, you do! I'm not deaf, you know!"

Raph clenched his fists. "Let me go so I can pummel the..."

Mikey's eyes widened, and he backed away. "On second thought, I'm not letting you go after all."

"Oh, yes, you are!" Raph snarled as Mikey trotted from the room. "Mikey! Get back here!" But he was already gone.

Raph groaned, slumping against his bonds. Mikey was going to pay for that. He looked down at the ropes holding him in place. There was no way he could get out of them. What was he supposed to do now? "Raph! You're back!"

Raph looked up to see Donnie trot into the room, grinning. "How'd you know it was me?"

Donnie shrugged. "Oh, you know, maybe it was the fact that you aren't spouting out curses and promises of revenge, or maybe it was the fact that I heard your whole conversation with Mikey." He leaned against his staff. "Soooo... you want me to let you go, huh?"

"No. I want to sit here in these uncomfortably tight ropes all night. Of course I want you to let me go, Donnie! I dunno why everyone seems to think you're so smart."

Donnie smiled slyly, studying his staff casually as he twirled it in one hand. "What's in it for me?"

"Nothing's in it for you. You're gonna let me go like the good brother you are. Kapeesh?"

Donnie walked up to stand beside him, squeezing his staff so that the blade shot from the top. "Fine. I'll cut the ropes, just as soon as you tell me you're sorry for calling me 'princess' seventeen times."

Raph snorted. "Really?! You counted?"

Donnie looked defensive. "Yeah, so what? That happens to be an offensive name, and it only made the... situation more embarrassing for me AND April. Start apologizing."

"I'm sorry."

"You called me princess seventeen times. That's one. You owe me sixteen more apologies."

Raph scowled. Donnie was starting to get on his nerves, but he really wanted to get loose. "I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry!" he growled out through gritted teeth.

Donnie shook his head. "That was fifteen. One more."

Raph reddened. "Just let me go already or, so help me, I will SMACK YOUR SORRY FACE ALL THE WAY TO THE PROMISED LAND!"

Donnie shook his head and started for the door. "You blew your chance, bro. Sorry."

"WHAT?! You mean that I said sorry SIXTEEN TIMES FOR NOTHING?! Get back here, Donnie! I mean it!"

Ara walked into the room, holding a bag of something. "Anybody want a peanut?"

Raph whirled on her. "No! I don't want a peanut! I want to get out of these stupid ropes!"

Ara whistled, then set down the peanuts and reached back for her sword. "Okay, okay, sheesh!" She crossed the room and quickly sliced the ropes with a couple swipes of her sword.

"Thanks." Raph got to his feet, groaning as he realized how sore he was.

"No problem, Ralph."

Raph sucked in a sharp breath, freezing mid-stretch. "Ara! What—exactly—did you just call me?"

Ara shrugged, popping a peanut into her mouth. "Ralph. Mikey dared me too. Frankly, I don't see what the big deal is."

Raph scowled. "That's Mikey's nickname for me. Drives me absolutely nuts. Ralph is what you would call an old, fat, bald guy."

"I guess Ralph suits you pretty well then, huh?"

Raph let his jaw drop. First Mikey, then Donnie, now ARA?! What was this? Pick on the tired, fed-up ninja day?! He had been pushed too hard, so hard that he snapped. He lunged forward and tackled the unsuspecting Ara, his strong hands pinning her shoulders to the ground. "Take. That. Back. Or. ELSE."

The shocked expression on Ara's face only lasted a second before it was replaced by a smug smirk. "Or what?" Raph wasn't about to seriously hurt Ara outside of sparring, and she knew it.

Raph smiled evily. "You don't wanna find out. Just take it back."

Ara raised an eyebrow. Her taunting expression was extremely irritating. "You might scare Mikey, but not me. I don't think I want to take it back. So I won't... RALPH."

Raph's eyes narrowed. "Oh no, you didn't."

"Oh yes, I did."

Raph shook his head in mock sorrow. "Fine. You leave me no choice."

With that, he gathered all the spit he had and slowly let it slip out of his mouth in a big, frothy strand. Ara's eyes widened in horror as it inched towards her face. She started to struggle, but quickly stopped as the strand jiggled threateningly. "Raph... Raph, you wouldn't! Dude, this is so immature! Like, Mikey immature! Don't let that thing touch me!"

*two seconds later*

"It's gonna touch me! IT'S GONNA TOUCH ME!" Ara shrieked as her eyes crossed to try to focus on the glob of spit only inches from her face. Raph debated whether or not to actually let strand drop down on her. If he did, the results would be hilarious, but Master Splinter would KILL him. Better settle for a no.

But that didn't mean he couldn't torture her a little longer. "Do yoo ta i bac?" He asked, careful to not let the glob fall. It shot forward as he talked, and Ara had to press her cheek against the floor to avoid getting touched.

"Yes! Yes! I TAKE IT BACK! Just get off of me!"

"Oo suur?"

"Yes! I'm sure!" Ara laughed, hysteria obviously starting to set in. "I have never been so sure in my life!"

With that, Raph quickly slurped up the spit, but it was more ready to break than he had thought, because it snapped. Now it was Raph's turn to stare in horror as it fell and landed smack-dab on Ara's upturned cheek.

There was a horrible silence for a few seconds as Ara's eyes bulged and she just lay there, sort of stunned. There were two identical gasps from the doorway, and Raph didn't have to look up to know that Mikey and Donnie had been watching. Raph stood and inched away very, very slowly.

"Raph's gonna get it!" Mikey's voice unfroze Ara, and she leapt to her feet, wildly wiping at her face. "EEEEW! Ew, Ew, EEEEEEEEEWW!" she exclaimed, lifting her slobbery hands. She shook them, and the spit slapped the floor with a sickening splat sound.

Raph inched for the door, hoping the spit would keep her occupied long enough for him to slip away. No such luck. Ara's head shot up to glare at him, her nose twitching up into a snarl. "You little..."

The expression on Ara's face made Raph throw his pride to the stars, and he broke into a run, Ara in close pursuit. They circled the room several times, a tossed remote almost hitting him in the head at one point. "Ahhhhhhh!" Raph exclaimed before finally leaping behind Mikey: she wouldn't hurt Mikey.

Ara stormed up to the blue-eyed shield. "Move. Aside."

"What is going on in here?" Raph peeked over Mikey's shoulder to see Splinter enter the room.

"Sensei, Raph SPIT on me!" Ara sputtered.

Splinter nodded calmly, obviously taking in her slobbery state. "So I see."

"It was an accident!" Raph exclaimed, coming out from behind Mikey. His little brother gulped and hightailed out of the room to avoid the fireworks sure to ensure.

"Oh, yeah. You ACCIDENTALLY pinned me down and ACCIDENTALLY slowly lowered a glob of spit until it HIT MY FACE!" Ara shouted, pointing at her wet cheek pointedly.

"Raphael, is it true that you spit on Ara?" Splinter questioned with a tilt of his head.

"Yes, but..."

Splinter held up a hand to silence him. "No buts. Even if it accidentally snapped at the end, you were in the wrong. Ara, you may decide Raph's punishment."

Both Ara's and Raph's mouths dropped. "You mean I can pick whatever I want?" Ara asked hesitantly.

"Correct."

"What?" Raph screeched. "She could ground me for a year!"

Splinter nodded placidly. "Yes. Yes, she could."

Grinning, Ara turned to her victim. "Hmmmm..."

With a groan, Raph crossed the room and plopped down on the couch, burying his head in his hands. "Go ahead. Seal my fate," he mumbled miserably. "This day couldn't get worse, anyway."

There was a long pause, then Ara finally spoke. "I choose nothing."

Raph lifted his head from his hands. "What?"

"You heard me. I choose nothing." Ara headed for the door. "It's been a long day, and you've been punished enough. Plus, I was sorta asking for it by calling you Ralph and purposely antagonizing you. I'm going to take a quick shower and hop into bed. No harm done."

Raph blinked as she disappeared from the room, then turned to the only other occupant, Splinter. "Wow. That was nice of her, huh?" Splinter didn't say anything in return. He only gazed intently at his son as if searching him for any lingering signs of Shredder. Raph was suddenly keenly aware that Shredder had been in his body up until a few minutes ago.

Today Splinter had had to go through seeing his arch enemy for the first time in years, only to know that it was really his own son. And to have Shredder, the real one, stuck in Raph's familiar body? Splinter had only left his room once the entire time, and when he had seen Raph, his freckled face had paled six shades of green.

Raph cleared his throat. "Sensei, I... that is to say, I'm..." his stuttered words trailed off. What could he possibly say to make things right? Nothing, that's what.

Splinter crossed the room, putting his hands on Raph's shoulders. "Raphael, I know what you are thinking and what you are trying to say. Nothing that has taken place was your fault. But, for what it is worth, I forgive you. I love you, my son." Then, to Raph's slight alarm and great embarrassment, Splinter picked him off of the ground to wrap him in a hug.

Raph stiffened at the gesture, but then his emotions won over his slightly-dented pride. (Heck, no one else was in the room anyway) He buried his head into Splinter's shoulder, wrapping his arms around the rat's neck. "Thank you, father." Splinter smiled, stroked the back of his son's head, then set him down.

Raph coughed, blushing. "And, umm... the whole 'I love you' thing? That goes for me too. This, uh, never happened, right?"

Splinter grinned and turned to leave. "Indeed... good night."

Raph turned towards his own room, the warm fuzzy feeling inside of him refusing to go away. "Good night, sensei."