Oh wow, so many reviews after I posted the last chapter! Thank you guys so much!
CHAPTER FOUR
"Alright, Donnie. I got it." Raphael said, forcing himself to stand up and walk towards the door.
"Thank you." Donnie whispered as Raph closed the door.
"Um, Leo..." Raph began, looking towards his brother.
"I'll be fine Raph," Leo said as they made their way downstairs, "I'm more worried about you."
"Hey, don't worry about me, I can handle lots o' things," Raph said, "It's just weird, though."
"Tell me about it. You know, we can put it in my room until you get a casket built," Leo suggested.
"Nah," Raphael shook his head, "Not there, bro. Mikey'd never look at your room the same again."
"I didn't think of that. What about Splinter's room?" Leo asked.
Raph scoffed. "Where'd he sleep, then?" He asked.
"Alright. The dojo?"
"You mean where we all practice?"
"You're not practicing now."
"Yeah, but we'd all remember it."
"Fair point. Where else is there?"
"Master Splinta," Raphael said, entering the kitchen, "Donnie said-"
"Look out Raph!" Mikey shouted, bouncing forward as he caught something shiny that almost hit Raph in the head. "Isn't this great? I should've had Master Splinter cooking here with me years ago!"
"What is it, Raphael?" Splinter asked, balancing three cooking pans and some flour in his arms and on his head. Whatever those two were doing, it was clear that Master Splinter was doing much to entertain his youngest son.
"Uh," Raph said.
"Not the time." Leo advised.
"Agreed," Raphael muttered. "Sensei, um, Don asked me ta take care of somethin' for him. I'm heading out of the Lair, but I'll be back soon."
Splinter frowned, but nodded his head.
"Stay in the shadows." he said.
"Yeah," Raphael said, "Will do. Though I'm only going ta the garage. See ya in a few."
"We still haven't figured out where we're going to put it." Leo said as Raph made his way to the elevator.
"Look," Raphael said as the elevator door closed, "Until everyone is ready and Splinter says that he wants it out in full view surrounded by candles and stuff, I'm just going ta put it somewhere no one will look for it."
"Raph," Leo said, "Don't leave it out in the sewers. That's just gross."
"I won't," Raph responded, "Look Leo, I'm just gonna leave it in my room, alright? No one'll come in there, and I can sleep on the couch downstairs."
"Alright," Leo said, "At least it's not on the sewers. Although come to think of it, your room might be just as bad."
Raphael retaliated to that with a light punch. "Can it Fearless," he said.
Or it would have been a light punch, if it didn't go straight through Leo.
That was the moment when they both remembered that Leo wasn't...well, there anymore.
"So," said Raph, "Maybe when they're done in the kitchen, I'll go to Splinter and ask him if he knows what's happening. You know, how come I can see you and all."
"Yeah," Leo said. "Sounds like a plan."
The elevator door opened, and a few seconds later they were at the Battleshell in the garage.
"So," said Raphael, reluctant to open the vehicle door, "How are we gonna do this?"
"Are you sure you want it on your bed?" Leo asked as Raph placed the body in his hammock, "I'm fine with it on the floor."
"Grow up Leo, will ya?" Raph asked, concentrating on his task. "I'm fine. It's not like I'll have nightmares or anythin'. Not like Mikey, anyway."
"Right," Leo said.
"Now," Raphael said, straightening up. "We cleaned up the Battleshell-"
"You cleaned the Battleshell," Leo corrected.
"-so now I just need ta wait until Mikey and Splinter are done in the kitchen, then corner Splinter and let him know what's goin' on." Raph said. "And let him know I put your body here. 'Cause, you know, he might want ta move it somewhere else."
"Not yet," Leo said, "I've been thinking, and I'd like you to tell him after April and Casey visit tonight."
"Leo-"
"Please, Raph. I don't want him worrying about me while they're here."
"Fine," Raphael conceded. "After that."
"Thanks." Leo said.
"Whatever." Raph said. "I'm heading downstairs. You coming?"
"Sure." Said Leo, "After all, what else is there to do?"
When they entered the kitchen, Mikey and Splinter were still making...something...and Donnie was sitting at the kitchen table watching them. Raph noticed that he didn't have his bo staff with him.
"Hey," Donnie said as Raph sat down.
"Done." Raphael said.
"Thanks," Donnie said, visibly relieved. "Where'd you put him?" He whispered, leaning closer to Raph.
For some reason, Raph was keenly aware of Leo standing next to him, leaning against the kitchen door.
"Someplace safe an' out of the way, for now," Raph answered. "I didn't get the chance ta run it by Splinter yet, but we'll worry about that later. Also, I cleaned the 'Shell up fer ya. So you can use it when you need to."
"Raphie," Donnie said, "I knew I could count on you."
"Yeah yeah," Raph waved that comment away. "So. What's going on here?"
"Mikey and Master Splinter are making at least four different desserts," Donnie said, "I hope April and Casey are hungry tonight."
"Good to see them having fun," Leo commented.
"Well," Raphael said, "Are we just gonna sit here and watch 'em do all the work?"
"No," said Donnie. "Want to join in?"
"Makin' what?" Raph asked.
"How about brownies?" Leo asked, "I think there's going to be some room for them in the oven."
"Now that's a good idea." Raph said.
"What's a good idea?" Donnie asked, confused.
"Brownies." Raphael said.
"Sounds good," Donnie nodded. "Hey Mikey, got any brownie mix? Raph and I would like to join you."
"Brownies? You guys wanna make brownies?" Mikey sounded ecstatic. "All right!"
"On second thought, maybe we shouldn't have offered," Donnie said as Mikey grabbed his arm.
"Agreed," Raphael said as Mikey grabbed him with his other arm. Leo just laughed.
By the time April and Casey arrived, the dinner table was set, all the desserts were prepared and the kitchen was cleaned.
"Hey guys," April said semi-cheerfully as she made her way into the Lair with arms full.
"Hey April," Leo waved. "I'm glad she's recovered so well from last night." he told Raph.
"Um, could someone-" April began.
"I got it!" Mikey said, snatching the bags from her arms.
"Hey, what about me?" Casey asked, his arms filled with twice as many bags.
"Get in the kitchen Bonehead," Raphael smirked, pointing to the kitchen. Casey could carry his own bags.
"I hope you guys don't mind, I think I went a little overboard when I made the food." April said, starting to unpack the bags that Mikey had placed on the counter. "Wow, who made these delicious smelling desserts?"
"I did, with the help of Master Splinter," Mikey bowed at her.
"Master Splinter?" April asked, "Now I'll have to try everything!"
"Good, 'cause we can't eat it all." Donnie said.
"What did you make, April?" Splinter asked, "It smells...so delicious!"
"Oh, just some ham and potatoes, beans, asparagus, breads, cranberry sauce..." She rattled off everything she brought with her, and then pulled out a few drinks as well-some teas, sodas and sparkling apple cider.
"This is quite a feast." Splinter said, looking over all the food.
"I wish I could eat some of this," Leo said, looking at Raph, "Better eat twice as much for me, bro!"
Raph grunted in acknowledgment and agreement. Just looking at all that food made him hungry. He hadn't realized until that moment that he skipped lunch.
"Well, I figured we all could use some cheering up," April said, "And anyway, there's going to be enough leftovers to last you a few days."
"More like a few weeks," Casey grumbled, apparently roped into setting out the food as well as carrying it.
"This is great," Mikey said, "Thank you April! Leo'd love it."
At Leo's name, everyone fell quiet. After all, he was the reason they were all there.
"Um, guys," Raphael said, breaking the silence, "Are we eatin' or what?"
The flurry of movement that occurred as everyone rushed to place all the food on the table wasn't entirely due to hunger.
As soon as all the food and people were at the table and everyone had said grace, dinner began. It was almost like a normal dinner with the family. Almost. There was that empty chair next to Raphael that kept reminding them that someone was missing.
"So," April said as soon as everyone had crammed as much dessert into their stomachs as they could, "Who's up for a game of cards?"
"I am," Leo said, forgetting himself again.
"Um, no offense April," Donnie said, "But that's something that Leo loved to do."
"Yeah," Mikey said. "I'd rather not do that tonight."
"What?" Leo asked, "Come on, guys!"
"Guys," Raph said, "Let's just do it. Leo'd want that."
"C'mon Raph, not today." Mikey said.
"Guys," Leo said sadly, even though he knew they couldn't hear him, "I want you to have fun."
"Hey, if you guys aren't game, that's fine," Casey said, throwing his hands back. "How about a movie instead?"
"Not really," said Mikey.
"Leo is the one who started movie night," Donnie said, "And it just doesn't feel right today."
"Alright," April said, "How about we tell stories? You know, the way you guys always like to do?"
"Leo started that too," Mikey said.
"My sons," Master Splinter said, "You have guests over tonight. Leonardo would not want you to sacrifice every good thing just because it reminds you of his passing."
They were silent for a while.
"Let's just get the cards and play for a while," Raph said, deciding to take charge, "Then if we're bored we'll do something else. Got it?"
"Fine." said Donnie.
"Sure, I guess." said Mikey.
"Alright then," April said, "Who's got the deck?"
"Raphael?" Splinter asked.
"Sure thing Sensei," Raph answered, jumping up to grab the deck from next to the couch. It was kind of hard to miss because Leo was just standing above the deck pointing to it. It was more than obvious that the guy wanted them to play.
"So. You guys ready to play or what?" Raphael retorted.
"Let's go," Mikey said, taking the cards from Raph and hopping over to the couch. He landed in the empty area in front of the tv, where they always liked to play when they had a card game going.