Replaced Part 3
Screaming until his lungs burned hot as fire Raph reared up from his bed getting tangled within his sheet that embraced around his body, before crashing to his cold cement floor.
Moaning from the throbbing beak, Raph fought the blankets with a vengeance, tearing them into rags to get them off of him in vain.
As if they were alive the sheets became tighter around him hindering his attempt to be free of them.
Hearing the commotion charging in as some self absorbed knight in shining armor, to come to his aid; Raph's door swung open suddenly with Leo rushing inside, fearful that someone had snuck into the lair without notice and attacked his brother who was slumbering.
Looking down upon Raph, Leo's body eased up as he let out a sigh mixed with annoyance and much relief, "Raph… what are you doing?"
Feeling his mouth moving yet nothing coming out, Raph tried to answer finding it difficult, impossible even.
"Raph?" Leo bent down helping his younger brother with the blankets while Raph continued to stare at him uneasily, acting in such a manner one would be towards a stranger.
"Raph what's wrong? I ran in here hearing a large bang and thought something horrible had happened… yet you're just all tangled up in your blankets…. Why aren't you answering me?" Leo questioned freeing Raph's arms and legs.
Attempting to communicate once again, intentionally wanting to tell Leo to back off, considering the confusion of what he witnessed still was fresh in his mind's eye; Raph realized he was unable to make a sound. So him screaming or thought he was, was nothing but him blowing hot air?
Leo did say he only heard him fall, but not scream, terrified Raph stumbled to his feet moving quickly out of Leo's reach.
"Raph calm down, it's me…" Leo coolly informed, putting his hand out stepping closer to the frightened turtle, "You just had a nightmare Raphael."
Shaking his head, Raph endeavored to growl in warning, finding that was a useless action, as only air escaped through his lips with no sound to back it up.
(What the hell is going on, why can't I speak or make a sound!)
"Mikey! Donnie!" Leo decided to take a step back calling for his brothers for aid to see if one of them would be able to console Raph.
Moments later, both siblings dashed into the room wary, looking at the situation at hand, seeing Raph in a fighting pose glaring at Leo as if he was the enemy.
"Raph please you have to relax, what is wrong? You need to tell us in order for any of us to help you," Donnie slowly asked, placing a hand on Leo's shoulder to indicate to the eldest that it was best to put more distances between both Raph and them.
Shaking his head, Raph flung his arms out furiously, struggled to scream in frustration finding his silence unnerving.
(I know you did something to me! I saw what you did to LEO!)
Losing all self control, Raph plunged forward, swinging his fist at Donnie's head.
Donnie shrieking in shock, back away only to be saved by Mikey, jumping in front of his older brother, grabbing Raph's flying fist with his hand.
Firmly the small turtle battled strength against strength, losing the match as his own hand started to buckle, if it wasn't for Leo getting into the middle Mikey would have had his hand snapped backwards unnaturally by the sheer force.
"Raph what are you doing!" Mikey yelped in confusion, helping Leo to pin the hotheaded brother who has just lost his marbles, to the ground.
"Raphael you have to calm down! Donnie are you okay?" Leo voiced commanded then to soften when addressing Donnie.
"I'm fine," Donnie replied shivering from the close call, "But I think we need to get Raph to my lab quickly and figure out why he can't speak and what is causing this rage to flare up."
Nodding the brothers fought against Raph, who kicked and twisted, trying to get them to let go of him.
(Let me go damn it! Mikey this isn't Leo or Donnie, why can't you see that?!)
Rearing his head up Raph struggled under the restraints, as his so called brothers watched him talking amongst each other, now and then eyeing him for a quick moment, afterwards went back into the conversation at hand.
"Donnie what is going on? I know Raph can be unpredictable and loses his temper in his moment…, but he is acting like he has…" Leo crossed his arms, biting his tongue on the word he didn't want to let out or think of.
"Has rabies?" Mikey put in abruptly, getting an annoyed huff from Leo for interrupting him.
"I'm not sure; he has no signs of rabies," Donnie assured them not surprised Mikey would suggest that, "Nor does he appear to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The only thing I can tell, I believe he might be suffering from delusions caused by his confusion and strep throat that he has caught," Donnie sighed leaning his shell against his desk.
"He has strep throat?" Mikey flashed a look at Raph then back to Donnie.
"Yes, that is why he can't speak, I noticed there was swelling and came to that conclusion. He must have caught the virus on the surface. Who knows Casey could have been the culprit. Those two tend to drink each other's beers or finishing them off. Casey could have had been sick or was around someone who was and became a carrier and passed it on to Raph."
(Strep throat my ass!)
Raph glared at Donnie seeing the sewage of his lies seeping out of his mouth making this situation stink more.
"Donnie that doesn't explain the bizarre behavior or the fact he snapped like that," Leo stated, not seeing how that would bring this on within the young brother.
Smiling lightly Donnie shook his finger, "Not necessarily Leo, I think it is the real reason he went on the deep end. The shock of the nightmare that I assume he must have had, then finding his ability to speak was taken, and as well with the hint of stress he has been under lately like the rest of us, could have very well resulted him to have a mental breakdown."
"I see… then what should we do?" Leo said softly feeling helpless.
"Give him some time to cool down for starts. Once he is stable again, release him, allowing him to have a breather with little restrictions, if not that might bring the stress back to him. Not just that maybe it's best that you, and I are not in the room during that time frame of recovery. I can tell we are agitating him Leo for what reason I'm not sure. Mikey should be the one to look after him and determine if Raph is well enough to let go."
Pondering on this Leo shifted in his spot, rubbing his head, "Okay Donnie we will go with your plan… Mikey, you're calling the shots, but if Raph acts aggressive call us. Please don't hesitate."
An hour or was it two? Raph laid there in his own silence.
With so much free time at hand, with only the company of his personal thoughts, even with Mikey in the room, the turtle felt alone, allowing him to start to question himself.
Was it a dream? Leo was acting like his old self not some demonic thing that possessed his brother's body.
He couldn't really blame his brothers taking such actions towards him over his outburst hours ago.
With good reason they had all rights to strap him down to the bed, he did just claim war with no rhyme or reason, acting like some raving lunatic minus the sound effects.
Then the question remained was he going insane?
(Maybe Donnie was right; with all the stress, I just had a break down... But was I really that stressed?)
Letting out a sigh that brought a spark of irritation to the red clad turtle, unable to hear himself to make such an action, Raph closed his eyes focusing on his inner peace before he started flaring through the nostrils like some wild boar.
With much effort, Raph redirected his thoughts away from the fact he was tied up that made him restless and wanted no more than to walk, hell if someone said he had to dance; he would, just to feel the freedom of his body moving without constrictions.
"Raphie..." Mikey whispered, pulling a chair to his brother looking him over, to read his body language.
Reopening his eyes, Raph tilted his head towards Mikey in response.
Nervously the small turtle fidgeted rubbing his thumbs, "About yesterday... when we were talking about doppelgangers..."
Leaning forward Mikey lowered his voice to avoid anyone overhearing, "I was just playing along dude... I thought you were bored at first, then when I realized you were telling the truth… I decided to prove to you, that you were wrong hoping it will clear the air. I shouldn't have done that... I seriously didn't know it would escalate to this... I'm sorry bro, I should have told Donnie or Leo and they would have noticed you need some real help..."
(He was playing along... So he didn't believe me. I guess I can't blame him; I don't honestly don't believe me either...)
"So dude… you look like you calm down; I don't know what kind of nightmare you had last night to trigger this, but I think you are better now," Mikey squeezed Raph's shoulder slowly loosening each strap watching like a hawk on Raph's reactions.
Finally free Raph jumped off the bed making Mikey a bit squeamish by the sudden movement.
(Damn, he is going to think I might turn on him and attack him... How the hell do I tell him I'm okay?)
Taking a quick glance around it hit him, as Raph rushed towards the desk searching through the drawers, while Mikey slowly went to the door opening it to holler to his brothers.
Ignoring the impatience of his little brother for not giving him a second to reveal what his attentions were, Raph found what he wanted, pulling it out of the drawers in time, noticing the shadow of his brother approaching him.
Raph not wasting a moment to show what he had, scribbled on the notepad quickly, just as Leo was about to tackle him.
I'M FINE, PISS OFF LEO!
Stopping in his tracks, Leo shook his head disapprovingly, "Raph you could have just written I'm fine and not added me to 'piss off'."
Raph taking much pleasure in the sight of the stern look on his brother's face, Raph couldn't help grinning at the leader as he passed by him.
The red clad turtle was done staying in this lab; he needed to blow some steam on something a bit more productive than laying on some damn bed.
"Where are you going Raph?" Donnie stood in the brother's way yet made sure there was still some distance in case Raph resorted in a violent approach to get his point across.
Rolling his eyes, Raph scribbled on the pad almost breaking the pen.
Going to work out is that okay with you Doc?
"No, not really. I would prefer to do some tests first now that you're acting like yourself. Primary starting with a blood test," Donnie crossed his arms.
Hearing the two words that made him want to shiver and hide in his shell, Raph shook his head quickly.
No Blood tests! I'm fine, now get out of my way.
"Raph, I think Donnie should..." Leo started to back up Donnie only to get the evil eye from Raph in return.
I said I am ok! Now let me go jeez!
(Come on let me leave... I don't want to do a blood test... I can't)
Unable to shake yesterdays nightmarish day Raph simply didn't want to think about blood tests or even be in this lab, all he wanted to do was clear his head of these thoughts once and for all.
Giving in both older brothers sighed, "Fine just don't over do it. If you feel off please Raph come back to me, I don't want you to experience another episode."
Sure sure, whatever.
Working out for the rest of the morning and well into the evening, Raph punched the hell out of that bag of his to the point it screamed for a time out.
Sweat thickly coating his green body the turtle headed for the showers, cleaning himself up before sneaking out of the lair.
Though Leo put his foot down over the idea of Raph leaving, the red clad turtle ignored him like normal wanting to finish this cleansing ritual with some fresh air, good company and some ice cold beer.
The only one in town to give him all three nurturing things to ease his tiresome soul that was done with horror movie scenarios was his best friend Casey.
"Hey Raph, you are aware mother bear is having a cow over the fact that you left the lair right?" Casey sat on the edge of the building with a cold one waiting for Raph's lips.
Yeah go figure... 'Mother may I?' could be such a tool.
"So you do have strep throat," Casey barked in laughter amused over fact Raph has to write on a sheet of paper.
Rolling his eyes, Raph sat down, ignoring Casey's enjoyment on his behalf.
Shut up bastard!
"You first... Oh wait, you can't speak..." Casey roared slapping his knee, "OH oh, What I got a good one... Crap I forgot..."
Raph stared at his friend, placing his hand on his forehead; if only he could speak, he would have some great choices of words for the shell for brains.
"So Raph..." Casey cleared his throat wiping the tears from his eyes becoming concerned, "I was told you... you lost your marbles this morning and went for Donnie's throat. What was that all about?"
Nothing Casey just some nightmare, I got confused. That's all.
Raph lied well sort of; he was confused, but at the moment all he could see when looking at Donnie was that thing with black eyes.
"Man that must have been some messed up dream."
Yeah tell me about it.
"To dream about your brother stealing the soul out of your other brother... That would make anyone go crazy," Casey said, taking a sip from his beer all casual like.
Startled by what Casey said about his dream that he never told anyone or had the chance to if he dared, Raph scribbled on his notepad shoving it into Casey's face.
What the fuck didja say?
Confused Casey lowered the pad making eye contact with Raph, "I said it must have been a really fuck up dream for you to act all squarely like you are now..."
Frustrated Raph grind his teeth.
After that u dumb ass! What u said my dream was about!
"What is your beef Raph?" Casey got up to his feet, moving away from his turtle friend, "I never said anything about what your dream was about, how the hell would I know what it was?"
BULL SHIT! U said it would suck to dream about your brother stealing the soul of your other brother!
"Whoa Raph take a chill pill," Casey put his hands out in defense, "You are going off your rocker! I never said anything of the sorts... Maybe you should stop drinking, and I will call one of your brothers..."
FUCK YOU CASEY!
Raph showed Casey what he wrote before crumpling up the paper chucking it at Casey's head before rushing into the shadows disappearing in the night.
Faintly behind him Casey hollered desperately calling Raph back.
Raph knew that wasn't an option, he knew deep down, that Casey said something about his dream... To think he was finally going to let go of yesterday's madness just to be pulled into another whole new world of crazy!