Raph's POV

I would never admit it, but… Mikey was right. When Leo and I fight, we don't notice anything that's happening around us. That's pretty bad, considering we're trained ninja's! The lair could be on fire and we would just continue arguing! Or, to follow Mikey's example, one of our younger brothers could just vanish and we wouldn't notice.
Man, I can't believe that Mikey really did that! Just to prove his point!
Now, I just hope that I'm right about where Mikey is…

By now, I had reached a rooftop with a clear view on Central park. I looked around and hoped to see my baby brother sitting on a roof somewhere. Some time ago, he told me that if he really needed to clear his mind, he would come to this neighborhood and just sit and watch the city.
Sometimes for just a minute, other times for hours on end.
I had pretended that I wasn't listening and that I was to focused to pummeling the punching bag. But I had been listening. I just hadn't showed.

I sighed and smiled when I saw a small green shape sitting on the edge of a roof close to where I was standing. I reached it in no time.
Before I even had the chance to open my mouth, Mikey spoke up without even turning around: "What are you doing here, Raph?"
At first, I was a little surprised that he had known it was me. But then I smiled. He had loads of talent. He just didn't do anything with it. And still he had the time to goof around and make jokes during a fight.
I walked up to him and sat down next to him: "What does it look like I'm doing here? I'm learning to dance the tango, duh!" I saw Mikey smile a little, but he hid it quickly.

There was an awkward silence between us.
Then, I said what had been on my mind since Donnie had run into the room: "We're sorry, Mikey. About everything"
Mikey shrugged: "It's ok."
"No, it's not ok! You were right and both me and Leo should have known what our fighting did to both you and Donnie. Leo feels awful about the entire situation!"
"Only Leo?", Mikey teased. I took a deep breath and tried my best to stay calm: "Both of us feel awful. Ok now?"
Mikey nodded and smiled. And just by seeing that, I couldn't help but smile as well.
I stood up and pulled him in a headlock. The two of us were just having fun and laughing when I got a message. I let Mikey go and took my T-phone.
'Traced Mike's T-phone, seen he's with you. Everything all right? Leo'
I showed the message to Mikey. Then, I answered we were fine and coming home soon.
"Why didn't you pick up your phone when Don called you?", I asked.
"I don't know", Mikey said as he looked at the ground "I just wanted to be alone for a while. I needed some time for myself"

"To do what?", I asked. I was a curious guy.
Now, Mikey started blushing: "Well… remember the notepad Don gave me for Christmas?" I simply nodded. He reached in the back of his belt and pulled it out. On the cover was his name in big orange letters.
When he opened it, my mouth fell open. The pages were filled with colorful drawings of all of us. And they were amazing! You could really see our personality's in the picture.
But clearly Mikey took my silence the wrong way.

"I know they suck", he said as he closed the notepad "but it just helps to calm my mind"
"No, no!", I quickly interfered "They're wonderful! I mean, look at them!" I took the book and opened it on the first page.
A drawing of me and Leo in the living room.
"Look at Leo here", I continued "You can see he's bossy in the way he holds his hand and looks at me. But you can also see he cares because of the loving smile. And you can even see my bad temper in my face, but also that I care about you guys in the way I hold myself."
I looked at Mikey, who was completely absorbed in his own drawings. It was like he had never seen them before.
On the next page were Donnie and Mikey, Don sitting at his computer and Mikey behind him with his arms on his shoulders.
"Here, see how focused Don is on his work? And see your smile and the joy in your eyes! But even though Don's concentrating on whatever he's doing, he still looks at you and smiles…"

I took a deep breath and looked at Mikey, who gave me the same look back: "You guys are everything to us. If anything would ever happen to one of you…" I couldn't even finish the sentence. I didn't even want to think about it.
I gave Mikey his book back and patted his shell: "You're an excellent artist and a great guy. And don't let anyone ever tell you something else. Promise?"
Mikey nodded: "Promise"

"Come on", I said "let's go home. I bet Don and Leo still want to lecture you about leaving the house without telling them"
Mikey gulped: "Oh boy… didn't think of that"
"I'll help you out", I said with a wink "Come on, last one in the lair is a knucklehead!"
We ran off, laughing and having fun. But mostly, preparing for what would wait for us at home…

Author's note: And here I was, thinking this would be a short chapter…
Anyway, thanks for reading! :D I'm still open to suggestions, questions, reviews,…

You know how to reach me ;)