A/N: Gonna try and re-update every other day. Hope you will stick around for the new stuff which is gonna be UH mazing

Disclaimer: I do not own TMNT

"Yo, Leo, where you been?" Raph's gruff voice rumbled through the lair as the door grinded shut behind him.

"Yeah dude, you've been gone, like, four hours. You pulled a Raphie." Mikey laughed and ducked as his red banded brother swung an arm at his head. They had both been sitting on the couch when he walked in, but Mikey stood up and indiscreetly backed away from his normally temperamental older brother, but when Raph dismissed him, Mikey pulled a confused face.

"I needed some air." Leo said casually, acting as if nothing was happening. "Where's Don?" He asked as he moved away, exposing his youngest brother. Raph didn't move, but Mikey kept a wary eye on him.

"The caveman is in his den," Mikey cried as Raph suddenly lunged at him, sending him sprinting towards the dojo. Raph took two steps, then stopped and turned back to Leo.

"You okay?" he asked softly, stepping up to his brother and touching his arm gently. Leo gave him a soft smile, admiring how much Raph had changed since their last adventure at Winter Corp. Raph had become more patient and understanding, especially with Leonardo, though that had been tested in the past few days. But Leo could still see Raph holding something in. Leo had thought it best to give Raph some time. They all had to adjust to being together again, and with everything that had happened during Leo's absence and since his arrival, they all had some injuries that needed time to heal. But it was going on five weeks now, and Raph and Leo had supposedly forgiven each other, but Raph was still not back to his old hotheaded self. Leo was starting to get worried.

"I'm fine Raph."

"You know we don't like you goin' off on yer own. Will ya let someone go wit ya next time?"

Leo saw the genuine concern in Raphael's amber eyes, and felt something like a punch in the gut. Raph had been worrying. That's the last thing Leo wanted. Raph needed to get back to normal, not be worrying and fretting about Leo. Raph didn't handle worrying very well, and with everyone getting used to each other again, the last thing Leo wanted was everyone freaking out over him being gone too long.

"Yeah, I will Raph. Are you okay?" Raph's shoulders were slightly hunched and he was nervously shifting from foot to foot, if only barely.

"Yeah, I'm fine." He said as he turned and walked towards the dojo. Leo heard him mumble something under his breath, but he didn't quite catch it. Mikey had peeped his out of the door, looking for his older brother, but spun back inside when Raph growled and leapt towards him.

Leo sighed and shook his head, a smile on his lips. At least he will still chase Mikey, even if he is more gentle. It's a start. He grabbed a water bottle from the fridge before approaching the lab, lightly tapping on the thick, noise proof door.

"Mikey, go away. I already told you that I can't have you messin'…" Don opened the door swiftly, a pair of glasses resting on the bridge of his beak, magnifying his eyes. Leo held back a laugh. "Oh, Leo. You're back…." Don stepped back, stepping aside so his brother could walk in.

"Whatcha doin' Donnie?" Leo asked curiously, spotting a large, box-shaped, plastic-looking thing sitting on his brother's desk. He noticed various shapes, sizes, and colors of plastic and metal laying across the counter, strewn about carelessly, and the old Playstation that had somehow gotten in between the youngest of the family and Raph's fist a few years ago was laying on the table. It looked like it had been gutted, leaving only a black, plastic shell.

"Uh, it's kinda a surprise for Mikey. For his birthday." He said sheepishly, wringing his hands together.

"Mikey changed the date again? I thought he had picked some time in June permanently." Leo had to chuckle. Since none of them knew their official birthdays, as young children Splinter had let them choose a date to be celebrated as their own. Over the years, the three oldest had kept the dates they had chosen as children. But Mike had found it to boring and constantly changed his "birthday".

"Yeah, he said he wants it to be the twentieth, because that's how old he will be, although he still has the mentality of a thirteen year old."

Leo smiled before turning his attention back to the contraption on the desk. "What is it?" Leo asked, not daring to touch his brother's newest project, but staring intently at the large box. When Don was silent for a few moments, he looked up at his brother. "I'm not gonna tell, Don…"

"I know, I know. I don't even really know what it is either." Leo looked at him, and eye ridge raised in question. "It's hopefully going to be a new game system that can run games designed for any system, but it isn't cooperating with me." Don said, frustrated.

Leo nearly laughed at the pout on his younger brother's face. "I'm sure it will come to terms with you eventually."

"Yeah, I know. It's just so stubborn. And having a stir crazy brother griping at me to let him out hasn't been helping."

Leo smiled. "He does seem to be over that cold." Leo said as Don sat down at his desk. Leo sat on the small cot they always kept up for when one of them was injured. "Can he go topside yet, Doc?"

Don smiled. "Probably tomorrow. One more night of rest and he should be one hundred percent. If he stays down here one more day I think we're gonna have to start looking for new furniture."

Leo laughed, imagining the scene, and Don softly smiled, something he hadn't done since Leo had walked in. "Then I guess we'd better let him go on patrol tomorrow, huh?"

"If you still want furniture and three living brothers, yeah. He and Mikey were going at it all while you were gone."

"I can only imagine." Leo sighed.

Silence enveloped the room while Leo watched his younger brother fiddle with a small black square from the Playstation. He noticed his brother's slump and how his shoulders were more tense than usual. His eyes drooped, and his breathing was slow and soft.

"Donnie, when was the last time you slept?" Don opened his mouth to respond, but Leo interrupted. "And fifteen minutes of sitting in your chair with your eyes closed and typing does not count."

Don's face fell. "Day before yesterday, I think." He said softly, looking at the square in his hands.

"Alright, come on." Leo grabbed his brother's arm and he started to protest, but he stifled a yawn with one hand and closed his eyes, allowing Leo to tug him up from his chair. "I know where you hid the key and don't think I won't lock the door if you don't go to bed." His brother glared at him halfheartedly before leading the way out of the lab. Leo shut off the light and closed the door, silently locking it with the key while his brother's back was turned.

Don stopped in the kitchen for a drink of water before calling good night and slowly walking up to his room. Leo waited for the door to click shut before deciding to investigate the current situation in the dojo. He held his breath, fearing the worst, and opened the sliding doors. He had to laugh under his breath at the scene. Raph was pinned against the wall, duct tape holding his wrists to the wall. Raph was struggling to get free, but the tape, along with Mikey's weight against his shell, held him still. Mikey was playing with the tails of Raph's mask, a devious grin plastered on his face.

"Mikey, I swear when I get loose yer gonna be too sore tuh walk for duh rest uh yer life."

"Don't worry, Raphie. I'll let you free. I'm almost done. Just gotta tie one….more….There!" The orange banded turtle exclaimed, backing away and admiring his handiwork. Leo clamped a hand over his mouth to suppress his laughter. Mike had managed to tie Raph's mask tails into a large, bodacious bow with several curled matching red ribbons cascading down his shell. Where Mikey had found those, Leo had no idea, but the image was priceless.

Raph continued to tug against the tape. Mike, sensing his brother would be free any moment, suddenly pulled a camera out of nowhere and several clicks signaled that he now had a new source of blackmail. Raph, not being able to see, but hearing the shutter sounds, ripped his arms from the wall, a newfound fire to his wrath. With his arms free, and his sais now in his grip, Raph spun around, a deadly glare on his face. Mikey started to back away, hands up in surrender.

"Raphie…" Mike squeaked.

"You….are….so…dead…you little twerp!" Raph's voice was menacingly low, and his knuckles were white from gripping his sais.

Leo jumped between them, a hand on Raph's plastron and his shell facing Mike. "Raph, calm down. It was just a joke. Calm down." His brother's body shook in anger underneath his hand.

"Yeah, dude." Mikey said a little louder, now more confident with Leo shielding him. Raph growled and shifted forward, but Leo pushed harder against him.

"Mikey, go to bed. It's late." Mikey hesitated for a bare moment before scurrying out the door. Raph was still tense and shaking, but his face softened slightly when Mike left. "Raph, do you need to fight? Cuz I will. We can spar, like we used to." Leo said softly. His brother tensed at the words, but sighed in defeat and sank to the ground, tucking his sais into his belt. A tang of annoyance gripped Leo, but he pushed it away. He needed to be patient. Raph hadn't sparred with him since the night of their bad fight five weeks ago. Leo sat down next to his brother.

"Nah, I don't wanna fight you, Leo. Will you fix my mask?" He looked up from his gaze at his hands and caught Leo's nod before turning, facing away from his brother. Leo began to untangle the ribbons and untie the bow, but Mikey had made sure to make it a difficult task. Leo found the silence tense, and spoke up, deciding he needed to confront the problem while Raph wasn't in a rage.

"Raph, why won't you fight me?" Leo asked quietly.

Raph tensed. He was silent for a few moments before he sighed and relaxed again. "Cuz m'scared I'll hurt ya 'gain." He mumbled.

Leo sighed, tugging a particularly twisted knot free and dropping several shreds of ribbon to the floor. "Raph, you didn't hurt me. It's in the past. I'm over it; we forgave each other. I just want things to go back to normal."

"Things ain't gonna be like 'fore you left, Leo. We've all changed."

"I know that, but we are a team. That part of us shouldn't change."

"It hasn't, Leo. But, I still see it. I still see myself knockin' ya to da ground and almost killin' ya. I wanted to…" He said like he was disgusted with himself.

Leo was startled by the response. Raph had rarely been this open with him ever. More ribbons fell to the floor. "Do you still want to? It's that why you won't fight me? Cuz your scared you will this time?" Leo sounded harsher than he had intended, and for a moment he was afraid Raph's unnatural peaceful attitude would erupt in anger.

"No, Leo. I realized dat night, afta dose stone creeps gotcha that I didn' wanna lose ya. I need ya, b'leive it er not. I was so scared I wasn' gonna get you back dat night, dat I'd screwed everytin' up and you were gone fer good dis time." Raph sounded as close to tears as Leo had ever heard.

Leo was quiet for a second. "I believe you Raph. I need you too. I'm not gonna leave you guys ever again." Raph didn't respond "There, you wanna keep the ribbons in case you have a bad hair day?" Leo smiled as Raph turned around, holding out a handful of red strings.

"Nah, I'll get Mike back somehow." He snickered and set the pile aside. His momentary mischievous expression disappeared, replaced again with a sincere look of concern. "How can you promise dat, Leo?"

"Promise what?"

"Dat you won' leave us again?"

Leo thought for a moment, then held a straight face as best he could. "Cuz look at how messed up you are? You don't even get mad at me anymore. That's creeping everybody out, especially me."

Raph gave him a crooked smile. "Don't push yer luck. I've come close a couple o' times." Leo stood and offered a hand to his brother, which he grabbed and Leo pulled him to his feet.

"I can honestly say I will be relieved when you have something to be angry with me about. I can't handle a calm, patient Raph." The two walked out of the dojo and towards the stairs.

"Once I get outta dis stupid prison I'll feel better. You have no idea how bad I need something to beat up before I seriously cripple Mikey."

"Oh, I almost forgot. Don says you can come with us on patrol tomorrow if you get a good night's sleep."

Raph face brightened. "Finally!" he sighed.

Leo laughed. "Goodnight, Raph."

"Ain't you comin'?"

"In a minute. I need to talk with Splinter if he is still awake." Leo started walking towards his father's room as Raph started up the stairs.

"'lright. Well, night Leo. And, uh, thanks fer…fer the mask thing." He said sheepishly, and Leo knew he wasn't talking about just untangling his mask.

"No problem Raph. Thanks for talking to me."

Raph nodded, and silently climbed the stairs. Leo heard the soft click as his door shut, and walked up to his father's paper doors, leaning softly against them and listening. He heard no sound, and had just turned before a faint voice reached his ears.

"My son, enter."

Leo gently opened the doors and stepped inside, sliding the doors shut behind him. The smell of the rat, coupled with the flickering candle light brought a calming fog over Leo's senses. He involuntarily relaxed, his tense muscles unwinding and his breathing slowed.

"Kneel, my son." His father's voice was soft, but Leo heard a trace of tension. He panicked, thinking the worst, as he kneeled across from his father on the tatami mat near the bed. A short row of lit candle separated the two mutants. Splinter's eyes were closed, and despite his the slight strain in his voice, Splinter looked completely calm and relaxed. "Where have you been, Leonardo?"

"I went on a run, Father."

"You have been gone for hours, my son. We were all worried about you."

"I had my phone, and I did not go far, Master." Leo ducked his head in shame, knowing that he had worried them.

Splinter opened his eyes, and looked at his oldest son. He had changed much from his training in South America, but not nearly as much as some of his other sons. Where Leo had gained strength and independence, his next oldest son had attained a completely different temperament. Though the change was good for now, Splinter worried that Raphael would snap eventually, as he had in the past when brief changes in his personality had occurred. But perhaps, after his two oldest had fought out their differences and nearly lost one in the process, Raphael had changed permanently.

"Leonardo, you know we do not like you going out on your own." Leo opened his mouth, but Splinter raised a hand and he shut it. "I know you have gained much strength and greater skills from your training, but the enemies here are different, and it is safer for you to be with your brothers. You are a team."

Leo bowed his head. "I know, Father." He said softly.

"Are you still troubled about the effects your absence has had on your brothers Leonardo?" Splinter said after a moment.

"I don't know, Sensei." Leo whispered.

"I have noticed great improvements here at home. I have watched you struggle and use great amounts of energy to regain their trust and reunite your team. I believe your efforts are proving successful. Your relationship with Raphael has improved greatly."

"He still won't spar with me, Master. He is scared that he will hurt me again. How can I lead a team if they think I am fragile and weak?"

"You were not the only one that was injured that night on the rooftop, my son. I believe Raphael has still not forgiven himself for hurting you. His anger blinded his love for you, and he thinks he hurt you. He is scared it will happen again. That is why he has changed so much. He does not realize that you could not attack him. You saw him as your brother that night, yet he saw you as a source of his pain. Revenge clouded his judgment. He does not see you as weak; he sees himself as a danger, which is why he has changed. He is scared of himself, and you have helped him relieve that fear somewhat, but he has a long way to go."

Leo was silent for a moment, taking in all that his father had told him. "Yes, Sensei. How am I to help him, though?"

"I believe what you have been doing is enough. Raphael must do the rest." Splinter closed his eyes, and his son did the same, enjoying each others company as they relaxed their minds, but Splinter still sensed a tension in his oldest son. He opened his eyes again.

"Something else troubles you, Leonardo?"

Leo looked up. "No, Master. It is nothing. I have taken care of it, though it still tugs at my mind."

"What is your source of worry?"

"Nothing of importance, Sensei. I must be tired and letting it get to me. I am going to bed." Leo said softly as he graciously rose to his feet. Splinter stood and walked to his eldest, wrapping his arms around his son.

"Goodnight, Leonardo. It is wonderful to have you home. You have made me very proud." Splinter released him and Leo slid the doors open.

"Goodnight Sensei." He said softly as he closed the paper doors behind him and walked to his room.