A/N: Thank you so very very much to Amonraphoenix and Darkunderworld for beta-ing for me. You guys are awesome beyond words. And thanks to everyone who has read and reviewed, I'm glad you're all enjoying the story.

Disclaimer: see chapter one

Splinter walked into a silent lair. His ears twitched forward, trying to pick up some noise or sound that told him his sons were home. However, all he heard was the humming of the fridge and the whirl of Donatello's numerous computers. The ninja master went to his room and placed his travelling bag on his bed before going out to the main hall again. He opened his mouth to call to his sons when Leonardo suddenly appeared from his room.

Splinter saw joy and relief flood his eldest son's eyes as the blue masked turtle hurried down the stairs towards him. He abruptly stopped in front of his father and bowed respectfully. Splinter returned the formal bow, but when he straightened he was pulled into a tight hug. Leonardo held his father close, breathing in the scent of the fragrance that Splinter burned while meditating. The sweet scent still clung to Splinter's robes; it was a scent Leonardo had always loved.

"Leonardo? Are you all right?" Splinter asked in concern, placing a hand on his son's shell.

"I am now, Sensei," Leonardo whispered in reply. He tightened his grip around Splinter, being careful not to squeeze too tightly. "I just...really missed you, that's all."

Splinter hummed in thought. "I have missed you too, my son," he answered. He managed to free himself of his son's gentle grip and took a step back to study his student. His eyes landed on the neatly wrapped white bandage around Leonardo's right arm. "Leonardo, what happened to your arm?"

Leonardo looked down at his arm and sighed as he wrapped a hand around his wrist. "Me and Raph got into a fight," he replied slowly. He looked up to see the worry in his teacher's eyes. "But, everything's fine now," his son added quickly. "So, you don't have to worry."

Splinter gave him a disbelieving look. Leonardo looked down at the floor and swallowed hard. Splinter's ears twitched again and he looked up to see Donatello and Michelangelo bounding down the stairs. They hurried over to him and they both embraced him in the same tight but gentle hug that Leonardo had given him. Now, he knew something was wrong. When they were kids they would always hold on to him tightly whenever they were scared.

"My sons, what has happened since I left you?" Splinter asked when Donatello and Michelangelo released him. "Other than Leonardo and Raphael getting into a fight."

The brothers glanced at each other and looked anywhere but their father. Splinter's tail began to sway back and forth, a sure sign that he was losing his patience. The youngest siblings turned to face the eldest, eyes pleading. Leonardo sighed in defeat and tapped his fingers together in a nervous manner.

"We were attacked by the Grim Reaper again," he said in a strained voice.

Splinter's ears fell back against his head as his eyes slowly widened in terror. For the second time he had not been there when his sons needed him the most. Leonardo noticed the look on his father's face and his winced inwardly.

"Raph got to us in time, Sensei," the leader said quickly.

"But so did the Reaper," Michelangelo muttered under his breath.

Splinter turned his attention to his youngest son while Leonardo and Donatello glared at him. Michelangelo shrank away under his family's stares.

"Explain," Splinter instructed firmly but gently.

Michelangelo swallowed and looked down at the floor. "Raph got me and Donny out fine, but when we were getting Leo, the Reaper showed up and shot at Raph, grazing him in the arm. He started yelling about how Raph was never meant to find us in time and that we all needed to die." He paused and shifted on his feet nervously. "Raph told me and Don to get Leo into the Battle Shell, so we did. We heard fighting and yelling and then...Raph...The Reaper was dying and he shot Raph..." Michelangelo trailed off as his eyes began to fill with tears and his throat began to burn.

Splinter's heart filled with unbridled horror and anguish grief. "Where is Raphael, now?" he asked carefully, fearing the answer.

The three brothers turned to look at Raphael's bedroom door. Splinter felt his heart unclench with relief. His son was alive, and had survived his encounter with the Grim Reaper once again.

Without saying a word, Splinter hurried up to his son's room and knocked on the door. When he didn't receive an answer, Splinter turned the handle and carefully pushed the door open. In the far corner sat Raphael, his back facing the rest of the room. Splinter stepped into the room and closed the door again. He slowly made his way over to his son and knelt down behind him. In the dim light he could see bandages wrapped around Raphael's upper right arm, his upper torso, as well as his lower legs. Splinter leaned to the side and saw that Raphael was staring down at his sais which lay in front of him on the floor.

"Raphael?" Splinter spoke softly.

Raphael stiffened at the sound of his father's voice. He took a quick, shaky breath and it was clear that he had been crying.

"Raphael, what happened?" Splinter asked soothingly.

It was a long time before Raphael even considered answering. When he managed to get his shaky breathing under control, he answered. "I'm a murderer," he whispered guiltily.

Splinter frowned in confusion. "Why do you say that?" he asked.

Raphael hung his head in shame and guilt. "I killed him, Sensei." His voice was hoarse from crying.

"Killed who?" Splinter questioned.

"Alfredson," Raphael replied wretchedly. "I...I..." His voice broke as his body began to shake with uncontrollable sobs.

Splinter reached over and wrapped his arms around his son. Raphael turned around and buried his face in Splinter's shoulder. The ninja master rubbed his son's shell soothingly.

"You did what you had to do, my son," Splinter whispered.

"I killed someone, sensei," Raphael sobbed.

"Someone who has been trying to kill you," Splinter pointed out. "You did what you had to do. If you had not killed him, he would have killed you and all of your brothers."

Raphael's sobs became more violent. "He did almost kill them, Master Splinter," he cried. "He almost killed my brothers."

Outside, Leonardo, Donatello and Michelangelo looked at each other with miserable expressions. It was unnerving to hear their hot-headed brother in such a vulnerable state. They didn't know what Raphael had gone through while trying to find them, and they would probably never know since Raphael didn't talk about what was bothering him. The brothers leaned in closer, trying to hear what was being said.

"I was scared, sensei," Raphael sobbed. "I was terrified I would never see them alive again."

"I know, my son," Splinter whispered softly. "However, you did find them in time."

Raphael took in a quick, shaky breath. "I thought I would find them and they would already be dead."

Splinter held his son close to his chest. "It was the trick of the Grim Reaper. He wanted your spirit to be broken."

Raphael continued to sob into his father's chest, allowing every wall and barrier he had constructed over the years to mask his emotions to simply crumble and collapse.

Splinter never let go of his son, rubbing his shell and telling him that the nightmare was finally over, and that his brothers were safe because of him. After a while, Raphael's sobs subsided as he cried himself to sleep; the exhaustion of the last few days finally taking its toll.

Splinter smiled down at his sleeping son. His ears twitched when he heard the sound of the door quietly opening. He glanced over his shoulder and smiled at his other sons.

"Is he going to be okay, Master Splinter?" Michelangelo whispered softly.

Splinter turned back to Raphael and brushed his mask tails off of his shoulder. "Yes, Michelangelo," he replied quietly. "In time he will be."

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