A/N:

Wow, it's been a while. I hope nobody thought that I'd abandoned this. Since I put up the last chapter I've:

- had to write final essays for my last semester of uni

- had my computer experience the Blue Screen of Death

- lost a close family friend to cancer

- re-thought the plot for the last few chapters of the story

- … And what feels like a million other things.

But now chapter 14 is here, and we're nearly at the finish line!

Big thanks to KameTerra for being my guinea pig reader for this chapter!

Please enjoy. I'm looking forward to hearing what people have to say about this part of the story. :)

(And I do hope there's no more stupid typos than usual; it's Silly O'Clock in the morning right now where I am).

Chapter 14 – Retribution

***

"Hey Don."

The keyboard clacked.

"Don."

Clack-clack.

"DONNY!"

His brother finally spun his chair to face him. "WHAT? I'm busy, Mike."

"I know. That's why we're going out. I want to talk to you, and you'll just get distracted if we stay here."

Don opened his mouth to argue, but Mike cut him off before he could speak. "You've been in here for days. We need supplies, and I figured April and Casey would probably appreciate a visit. Come on, out." He grabbed the back of Don's computer chair and started wheeling him towards the door.

"Alright, alright!" Don gave in grudgingly. He recognized the determined look on his brother's face. He didn't see it there often, but when he did he knew he wouldn't get any peace until Mikey got what he wanted.

Leo was on the couch in front of the TV with Raph, supposedly reading the book that was open on his lap.

"Hey Leo, we're just ducking out for - " Don snapped his jaw shut at the warning look he received. Crap. He'd spoken carelessly. They'd agreed not to even mention going topside in front of Raph yet – he wasn't ready, wasn't healed enough. Now he was sure to jump up and run off and do something stupid… Don watched Raph tensely, but his brother didn't give any sign that he'd even heard. He remained motionless, staring at the television. There was an extremely awkward pause while his three brothers realized he wasn't going to say anything.

"Ooookay," said Mike, because someone had to break the silence. "Well, I guess we'll just be going, then." Leo dragged his puzzled gaze away from Raph's face to consider them. "Are you sure it's dark enough out?"

"Sunsets equal longer shadows," Don pointed out helpfully.

"… Alright. Don't be back too late."

"We won't!" Mike chirped over his shoulder, tugging Don out the door. "Sweet freedom," he breathed reverently as it shut behind him. Yes, it was good to get out of the lair. He couldn't figure out why Raph hadn't jumped at the chance. After spending so long stuck inside a cage the size of a small shower cubicle, Raph's stillness and silence was all the more bizarre. This new version of Raph unsettled him. Raphael had never been talkative, but before even his brooding silences had, in their own way, been as loud as the shouting. Now his silences were just... silent.

Mike scuffed the dirt under his feet as he walked, trying to make as much noise as possible. Stop dwelling on this, said the sensible voice in his brain. Do what you came out here to do.

He was running a little low on inspiration at the moment, so he couldn't figure out a way to do this that wasn't blunt. "So, Don. What have you and Leo been planning?"

Don started slightly, then tried to recover. "We haven't been planning anything! I've just been collecting some data and - "

"You're going after Darmonaz, aren't you." It wasn't really phrased as a question, and Don's silence as they walked confirmed it. "And when were you going to invite me on this little crusade?" Honestly, Mike wouldn't have really needed an invitation. He was there, whether they wanted him or not. But it stung a little to think they didn't believe he could handle it.

"We've just been keeping tabs on him," Don said defensively, as they came into the garage. "Are we driving?"

"Let's walk. And you're not convincing me. Did you really think I wouldn't be interested? He's my brother, too."

"Mike…" Don sighed. "Look, it's not going to be pretty." He peered outside in the gathering dusk to make sure the alley was empty, then started climbing up the fire escape.

"What happened to Raph wasn't pretty," Mike muttered darkly. "What are we going to do about it?"

Don didn't speak until they reached the rooftop, and waited until his brother was standing beside him. "We're going to teach him what it means to mess with us." It should have sounded melodramatic, but in Don's mild voice the statement was merely factual.

"Leo is gonna kill him," Mike said with satisfaction. And then something occurred to him. "Woah. Is Leo gonna kill him? Is that what this is about?"

Don looked away, and started moving across the rooftop. "I… don't know. We haven't really… discussed that part of it. Not that Darmonaz wouldn't deserve it…"

"For sure," Mikey agreed, his fingers drifting unconsciously to the 'chucks in his belt. "But… what does Raph think?"

"Um…" Don took a running leap for the next rooftop, landing neatly on the edge. "I don't know."

Mike followed him over. "No one's asked him?" Guilty silence. Mike continued. "You know that doesn't work, with Raph."

"I'm not letting him go back there again!" Don burst out with sudden heat. "I don't want Darmonaz to lay his filthy eyes on him ever again."

"I know. Doesn't change the fact that you have to tell Raph what you're planning."

Don didn't answer. They picked up the pace until they were running, and didn't speak again until they reached April and Casey's apartment.

***

Raphael stepped slowly into the dojo and eyed the punching bag. He should want to do this. Shouldn't he? At any rate, he was getting sick of staring at the television and thinking of nothing. He hadn't been sleeping properly the past few nights, and he still felt kinda strange and hollowed out on the inside, but his muscle tone wasn't going to come back on its own.

He placed a palm against the worn surface of the bag. Okay. He could do this. He stretched both his arms out and rotated his wrists experimentally. The marks from the shackles had begun to fade, and the insides of his forearms showed no sign of needle marks.

He hit the bag, a few soft punches. Hmm. That felt okay, he supposed. Another couple of punches. Didn't this use to be a lot more… satisfying?

"Do you want to try with these?" Raph jumped and spun around to see Leo standing in the entrance. Shit, he was out of practice. Hadn't even heard him coming in. And now Leo was holding out Raph's sais toward him, carefully, respectfully. The image of Leo's broken swords chose that moment to flash through his mind, and the juxtaposition made his stomach clench.

He took the sais from Leo, avoiding his eyes. He hadn't really held them properly since he'd got back. The hilts still fit smoothly into his palm, a comforting weight. He hefted them a couple of times.

"Let's spar," said Leo. "Just a light one." He watched Raph hopefully. He'd actually missed sparring against him in the time he'd been gone.

"Okay," Raph accepted distractedly, still looking down at the weapons in his hands. Leo drew his swords and moved into the center of the dojo, standing at the ready. Raphael lifted his sais, and met Leo's eyes for the first time since he'd entered the room.

And suddenly, he couldn't move. Leo watched him, calm and focused, waiting for him to make the first attack. All Raph could see was the faint beat of the pulse at Leo's throat. The nightmare was starting again, in slow motion, but quickly gaining speed, colour and depth. The same throat torn open by his own claws, the blood spilling out, the rush of triumph, the sickening realisation…

His sais clattered to the floor, dropped from nerveless fingers.

***

When Don and Mikey returned, they found their brothers still in the dojo. Raph was sitting hunched up on a bench against the wall, staring down at his hands. Leo was sitting nearby, but not too close, watching Raph out of the corner of his eye. He looked up as they came in.

"How were April and Casey?"

"They're good," Mikey replied, "waiting for a visit from you, Raph, actually." Raph looked up at this, and Mikey felt a small thrill of victory. They'd all been tip-toeing around him for too long. "Donnie and I had a talk on the way there." He ploughed on recklessly, ignoring Don's hissed protest, "and we figured it's about time we did something about this Darmonaz guy."

Mikey stepped back, folded his arms, and watched his magic at work. Sometimes it was like watching a car crash in slow motion, but occasionally he got results just by putting things out there.

All of the eyes in the room swung onto Raph as he gathered himself to speak. When he eventually opened his scarred mouth, none of his brothers were expecting to hear the words that came out.

"What makes ya think," he said slowly, "that somethin' can be 'done' about him?"

Leo shared a glance with Don, who took a step closer to Raph. "Surely you know that I've been keeping tabs on him, Raph. We can't let him keep doing what he's doing."

"So you were gonna go… what, 'teach him a lesson'? 'Zat it?" He laughed, but there was no humour in the sound.

"We can't just sit back and do nothing, bro."

"Not after what he did," Mikey cut in fiercely.

Raph felt pinned beneath the combined weight of their gaze. He could almost feel the waves of puzzlement and concern rolling off them.

They really just didn't get it. He didn't even fully get it himself, but he could feel it in his gut. He had to make them understand; they couldn't go back. They could only go forward.

"No," he told them with as much force as he could muster. "Yer not going. It's too dangerous. He doesn't need ta know that there's more than just one giant walking turtle out there."

This was not the bloodthirsty urge for revenge that Leo had been expecting. He'd thought that Raph would jump on the idea with enthusiasm. He'd only been holding back from telling him out of a lingering concern for the physical injuries he'd suffered. His mind working fast, he tried to frame his words in his Reasonable Voice.

"Okay, that's obviously not the real reason. Or at least not the only reason. Why don't you want us to go after him?"

Raph ignored the question. "What are ya gonna do, anyway, huh? You gonna kill him? Fer what?" He snorted. "Fer bein' human?"

Leo couldn't answer. He didn't quite know himself what he was intending to do to Darmonaz. He hadn't allowed himself to think of it too much. (This conversation was revealing far too many gaps in his plans). He considered it. Would he kill Darmonaz? Could he hold a katana blade to the man's neck, look him in the eye, and kill him in cold blood?

Yes, his mind supplied him without too much hesitation. He'd been over that edge before.

Raph must have seen the answer in his eyes. He was beginning to feel vaguely desperate. "You kill him, and you prove him right about me. About what I am. It's exactly what he would expect from a… a… and I won't let him turn you into one, too."

"You're a freakin' hero, bro. He can't change that." Mike said stubbornly.

Don's voice was harsh. "He'll get what he deserves, that's the important thing."

While they were speaking, Raph had begun to pace. "It's not – you can't just – it doesn't work like that!" This was already far more words than he'd strung together in a long, long time, and they were taking their toll.

"Work like what?" Don prompted, and flinched when Raph spun around to smack a fist into the punching bag.

"There ain't no point." The energy seemed to drain out of him, leaving him calm. He spoke as if realizing something for the first time. "Revenge won't work here. He's not… He's not ever gonna see the 'error of his ways'. He knew exactly what he was doin', and he didn't give a shit. 'N I don't…" his voice died somewhere in his throat, and he took a while to dredge it up again. His brothers all seemed to be holding their breath, unwilling to interrupt the flow of words. He kept his face turned away, unable to say this and look at them at the same time.

"If we go after him ourselves, it's like… he's still in control. Still defining me." He let out a breath as the realization hit him. Can't go backwards, can only move forwards. "I can't keep doin' that. I can't keep doin' what he wants, I can't keep playin' his game. I can't…"

He made himself face them. "You gotta let it go."

He was pleading with them now; Leo could see it. Could he let it go? Leo prodded his emotions, searching for the truth before he would allow himself to answer.

"We can't just walk away from this. He needs to be dealt with -"

"So let the cops do their own job for once." Raph suddenly felt tired, right down to his bones. The spout of words was running dry, but he felt like he was starting to get through to them. "Just let it go… Please."

There was a long pause.

"… If that's what you want," said Leo.

***

Later, Leo quietly entered Don's room. One corner of his mouth lifted grimly when he realised that Mike was already in there, and Don had the maps open and running on his computer.

"Where is he now?" he murmured, coming to lean over Don's shoulder.

"He's out of town, at the moment. But I'm sure he'll be back."

"So he still hasn't found that tracker you left on the cage?"

"Nope," said Don with satisfaction.

"This is frustrating." Mikey flopped back onto Don's bed with a sigh. "We can watch him, but we can't touch him. I don't get it. Why?"

"It's what Raph needs," said Leo, trying not to sound half-hearted. "What exactly have we got on this guy, Don? What can we pass on to the cops?"

"Enough to get him put away for a good long time. He's the typical underground businessman, a finger in every pie. At the very least, once the NGOs get wind of what he's done, he'll be out of the animal trafficking scene for good."

Don tapped away at the keys for a few seconds.

"Is that enough for you, Leo?" Mike had sat back up on the bed and was now fixing his eldest brother with a knowing gaze. The kind you couldn't escape from – or lie to.

Don stopped his tapping. Leo shook his head once, slowly.

"Didn't think so," said Mikey. "Me neither."

"What else can we do?" asked Don in frustration.

"I think I might have an idea," Leo said, almost reluctantly. "It's still not enough, but it's… something." He turned to Don. "You have a contact number for Darmonaz in your files, right?"

Don looked at him for a second, his eyes beginning to gleam. Then he spun to face his computer and quickly dragged up the required information. Mikey came to stand behind Don's other shoulder, and the three of them silently contemplated the short string of numbers on the screen.

***

They gathered in Don's lab. Splinter was keeping Raphael busy with meditation in his chambers. Leo had thought that his Sensei would want to be present for the phone call – parental anger was a powerful force. In the end, though, Splinter had said that he would occupy Raphael while the call was made. "I trust my sons will be… thorough." He had said, his eyes glinting. Perhaps Splinter had known that his own anger could only be matched by that of three brothers united. Or perhaps, Leo thought, Splinter had decided that this was just one more of those things that they had to do for themselves.

Either way, they were ready. Leo had quashed his guilt about doing this behind Raph's back – after all, Raph hadn't asked them not to talk to the man, and anyway (Leo rationalized) Don and Mikey needed this. And of course, he did too. Leo was not above recognizing his own selfish purposes. For himself – for Mikey and Don – this was something that had to be done.

They'd decided beforehand on what they would say. They couldn't afford to spend too long on the line, in case Darmonaz got suspicious and decided to make a run for it. In any case, Don had reassured Leo, he'd sent all his data to the police and they would be on Darmonaz within a couple of hours. They just had this small window of time.

Don set the phone on loudspeaker, and taking one last look at his brothers' grim faces, dialed in the number. The phone rang once.

Twice.

Three times. There was a click at the other end.

"Hello?"

Leo had thought he was ready, but the sound of the man's voice, suddenly so close and real, spiked through his mental armour. What lies had Raphael heard spoken in that voice, what insults and abuse?

It was Mikey who spoke first, and a small corner of Leo managed to be proud at the steadiness of his brother's voice, its veneer of professionalism.

"Is this Mr. Darmonaz?" Mike said smoothly.

"It may be," the voice on the other end of the line cackled cautiously. "Whom am I speaking to?"

"Mr. Darmonaz, I have some enquiries about your recent show. I attended not too long ago, and found myself fascinated by your… main attraction." It didn't show through in his tone, but Mike's eyes were beginning to narrow.

"Ah, yes, the turtle monster," said Darmonaz, gaining some enthusiasm. Mikey's face froze in fury, and he turned away from the phone, unable to continue without giving himself away. Don took over, his fists clenched by his sides. He didn't bother disguising his voice.

"Were you aware that the 'creature' you were torturing has a name?"

"… Excuse me?" Darmonaz's voice was cold again.

"You heard me the first time, you despicable excuse for a human being."

(That wasn't quite following the script, Leo reflected, but he'd let it slide).

Mikey spoke out of turn. "How dare you call him a monster," (and Leo had never seen the blue of Mikey's eyes so bitingly cold), "It's you who's the monstrous one here, you piece of – "

"What is the meaning of this?" Darmonaz blustered. Mike and Don both opened their mouths to answer, but Leo spoke first, determined to keep this under control.

"Listen to me very closely, Mr. Darmonaz." He spoke each word slowly and precisely. "I will only say this once. We will be watching you. If you ever harm another living creature again, we will know about it. And we will make you regret it."

"Are you threatening me, sir?"

"Yes," said Leo simply.

Darmonaz sounded outraged. "This is just – who – how did you get this number?"

The steel in Leonardo's voice was the closest that Darmonaz would ever come to his katana blades, so Leo tried to make it count. "What you did to him was unforgivable."

And now Darmonaz was starting to sound just a little afraid. "Look, who the hell is this?!"

Leo exchanged a glance with his brothers.

"Monsters," he said, and immediately disconnected the line.

***