Secret

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It was the same every Saturday.

Raph would go out at dusk and return just before dawn. No change in routine, no flux. He never said where he was going and every Saturday he would leave with that knowing smirk, only to return with a tired but very content looking smile.

His brothers were sick of it.

Sure they were allowed to do what ever they wanted on that day because there was no practice, but they would still say what they were doing.

They had no clue what Raph was doing, no clue to where he was going, and frankly it was just odd seeing the smile, no matter how rare.

So now, Don, Leo, and Mikey sat perched on the couch waiting for Raph to get home like he always did in the early hours of the morning. They had been sitting there for about an hour now, and still he wasn't there home yet.

The lair entrance groaned and a figure walked through.

Raph.

The brothers let out a sigh then looked to Raph. They had expected to see the tired smile;however, this time it wasn't there, instead there was a slight scowl along with a little look of pain.

"Raph? What's wrong?" Don asked, slightly amused when Raph jumped.

Turning to face them Raph growled.

"what are ya doing up?"

The brothers looked at each other in concern. Raph's normal rough, tough voice was now barely a whisper, sounded scratchy and was hoarse.

" dude, what up with your voice?" Mikey asked, looking fairly concerned. Jumping over the back of the couch Mikey was by Raph side in seconds.

Raph looked puzzled for a minute. "wha'?...oh..just a scratchy throat it'll pass" Raph said with a shrug as if it had happened before.

The other two brothers joined Raph. Don examined Raph seeing if there was anything else wrong or different.

Nothing.

"how bout I make you a cup of tea." Leo said turning towards the kitchen before Raph could even say anything.

Knowing there would be more questions coming his way, Raph followed Leo into the kitchen, grabbed the tea then headed for the living room.

Mikey and Don joined Leo in the kitchen hoping maybe Leo had gotten some type of answer. Leo shook his head 'no' saying Raph just grabbed the tea and left.

"so...I don't get it. What's up with him?" Mikey asked, slumping into a chair.

Don was at the coffee machine making a fresh batch. He was used to staying up this late, but Leo had put his caffeine on a limit which meant he wasn't as alert as he would like to be.

"maybe he's sick.." Don answered with a shrug. The coffee was done so he poured himself a cup of his liquid gold.

Leo shook his head, sliding into a chair near Mikey.

"no...Raph doesn't get sick"

The brothers nodded in agreement. It was true, out of all of them, Raph was the one with the strongest immune system. Even as a child, when every one else was sick, Raph would be well enough to nurse them back to health.

" yo, Imma goin' ta bed, don't wake me.." Raph said leaning against the door frame, then walking away.

The brothers sighed, they hadn't really accomplished anything.

Raph popped in again. "you guys should go to bed too, ya look like ya stayed up all night or something" With that Raph left going up the stair and to his room.

Don shook his head. He pushed away from the counter he was leaning on, then plopped down into a chair.

They had been so caught up with Raph, and his soar throat that they had forgotten to question him about his where abouts like they had planned to. And now with Raph off in bed...

"well...this was a waste of time..." Don said sighing.

Mikey's head perked up. " Not really, dude...Did any of you guys see the bag he ditched?"

Don and Leo both shook their heads 'no'. All they had seen was a scowling Raph, no bag anywhere.

"Well I did...and that means he's got something to hide, which is even more fun" Mikey said, he was still smiling but it was starting to droop, showing how tired he was.

The brothers smiled.

" will talk about this later..now I think Raph's right, we need sleep" Leo said standing and grabbing the tired Mikey who stumbled a little as he tried to get up.

Saying their good nights...or good mornings, the brother walked up the stairs to their rooms. They chuckled when they could already hear the light snoring of Raph. Closing their doors behind them the brothers did as their hotheaded brother had done and went to bed for a much needed rest.

After all they had a long week ahead of them.

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Hey guys! well what did ya think? This was a request from MillionDollarNinja and here it is! I'm sorry it took so long hun! This ones going to be a multi chapter, I couldn't fit it into a one shot, even tho this first chapter is so short...XD

But please R&R! there greatly loved! kk Luv ya! Ruth.