Hey guys, missed me? For the ones who didn't know yet, I've been in Oxford for a week and except for reading a chapter once in a while I haven't really been able to do anything on . But no worries, all the alert-emails have been saved and I'm gonna work them through as soon as I can. So if you haven't got your review or PM or whatever, it's on his way ;)

Other than that I have brought tons of inspiration from the beautiful writer's city of Oxford, home to Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings and Chronicles of Narnia. So please enjoy my newly acquired inspirations and muses and whatnot.

Part 2

Chapter 13: years

"Michelangelo."

I don't shout. I know I don't have to as we're trained ninjas after all. His lone figure stands on top of one of the highest rooftops around here, mine being only two buildings away. Suddenly he starts moving, closing the distance in between us up until we're a few feet apart. While he's running I notice everything. The limp in his right leg, the slight twitching his fingers cause against the soft city lights and the single blue eye glistering as much as it has always done.

He tries to stand in one of the scarce shadows, trying to hide the marks on his skin I have already memorized after all those years. It doesn't matter to him though, he is so conscious about what he looks like now. As if being a green mutant wasn't bad enough, especially for him.

"What are you doing here, Mikey?" I mutter, unable to keep the gruff undertone out of my voice.

He shrugs uncomfortably and my eyes immediately follow the small spasm working its way through his arm, going from the shoulder to his fingers, making them twitch again. His head makes a jerk as well but it is difficult to see when one is not looking for it. I'm not sure if it is because he has become good at hiding the movements or if he's truly getting better.

"I was bored. Needed some fresh air and all. According Donnie it's good for me to move around, stretch my muscles and all. If I stop doing that he says I'll get worse again." He slowly drops the sentence, the words losing their bite when being said quitter. He doesn't like bringing up his long recovery process because it bothers him too much. Three years. Three goddamned years of him having to live like this. Like a crippled and a strung puppet, always walking around with pain and unable to keep control over his limbs.

"Don or Leo would've taken you to Central Park for that. Hell, they hardly allow you out of the sewers anymore, it's kinda hard to believe you came here with their permission."

His head slumps a little and I unintentionally flinch. The thick layers of scarring over his right eye startle me every time again. It's probably the most horrific of his injuries and neither Don nor Linda can tell if there is still a working baby blue eye underneath all the angry dark-green skin.

"I just wanted to see you again, okay?" He finally mutters in defeat. His voice is bitter and he sharply narrows the only eye left which makes it only harder for me to still be able to see his face well. "You haven't been home for almost two and a half years now Raph, when is it going to stop?"

I refuse to look him into the face. Not out of shame but because when I do I know I'll feel guilty nevertheless. He doesn't understand what I'm doing, that I need to do this to be able to find closure to what happened to us. And not just for me, but him as well. I'm trying to keep him safe so he won't ever have to suffer as much as he did, to keep my other two brothers from going through the same faith. It's the only thing I can do. Why doesn't he get that? Why does he have to ruin everything?!

I growl sharply and take a few steps backwards, turning around roughly and making myself ready to leave. I'm not sure why I let him anger me this easily but at this moment I don't care. I need to get away, vent my pent up energy on someone else. Not him.

"You're gonna bust some heads in now? Or worse?"

Stupid kid. Always has to ask the difficult questions, never leaving me alone when I need it. I saved him, I've protected him and now I can't get rid of him. I wish he, they, would just leave me alone and let me handle the stuff that needs to be dealt with. I might be known as the hothead of our family but I can take care of myself. And Mikey, I've done what I needed to do. I promised myself I would bring my baby brother back home safely, or at least alive as 'safe' is not the accurate enough, not even after three years. But he's home now nevertheless. He has two big brothers looking after him and Master Splinter to protect him from the demons that are still following him during the night. He told me about those sometimes, the nightmares I mean. Back when he was healing and I wouldn't leave his side other than the main necessities.

"Just get the hell out of here Mike. Go back to the guys and Splinter."

He doesn't make a move though other than the corner of his mouth pulling up a little. After everything that happened to him I had never thought he would be able to smile ever again. But I guess Mikey's always been one-of-a-kind as the first thing that he did the day he woke up was smiling up to me. One of those little-brother-smiles, the ones they give you when they're truly happy to see you. The ones you'll never admit you love more than anything.

"You've forgotten, didn't you?"

I let go of a huge sigh and turn around, making a big show out of acting as annoyed as possible. This kid always manages to get me to turn around, to get me to hear him out even though I know what he says often is just bullshit.

He takes a few steps forward but more casually than the last time he did. Truth be told, we've grown apart since the incident. Me and all of my brothers. I care about them but I can't face them at the moment, not when all I see in their eyes is disappointment and pity. Mikey is right, it's weird not being home for over two and a half years but I come to visit them often enough. Just never in the lair. I make sure I meet Donnie and Leo every Monday for a patrol and that I see Mikey often enough when he's training in the sewers. I'm not gone, just out. And I'm coming back when I'm ready. If they would only get that.

"I haven't forgotten, I know what day it is but I ain't gonna come. I didn't last year either."

The smile never falters and the shining in his blue eye seems a little brighter. I pray to all deities that it isn't because of salty tears gathering in there. But other than that I have my normal younger brother standing in front of me. Michelangelo when he was still an obnoxious brat of a ninja, instead of a broken kid that just doesn't want to admit how hurt he is. According to Leo it isn't an act but I can see through. Mikey's still having a hard time coping and I should know that better than anyone, I've seen him suffer after all. It's hard to say but those kind of moments bring two brothers together.

"But you did come the year before that. Please Raph, please come with me now. The others want to see you too. And Master Splinter."

He keeps begging, coming up with arguments as to why I should come and I watch him with both amusement and endearment. I cannot help it. He's my kid brother after all and it's good to see him truly like himself once in a while. He seems to really want me there.

Eventually I silently walk past my brother, brushing his shoulder in a silent invitation to follow me. He does happily, skipping along at some moments up until he notices that the grimace on his face when he hurts his leg doesn't sit with me well. He keeps on chattering though and I let him. It's one of the few things he still can do and once Donnie told me how glad he was that the smoke has never damaged anything inside that could've caused Mikey to become a mute. If there are three things Mikey is entirely passionate about it's pranking, talking and drawing. And as he already had to give up on his heritage, being a ninja, most of his pranks and his favourite past time drawing, it would be cruel for him to have to live the rest of his life in silence.

The sewer tunnels leading towards our home come closer far too soon and when I know all there is left is two bends and a couple of hundred feet straight on, I stop. Mikey doesn't seem to notice in the beginning and when he does his face crashes. The way the corners of his mouth drop strains the scar tissues above his lips and his widening eye wrinkles the skin on his forehead.

"Don't tell me-"

"I promised ya, Mikey. I would make sure you would get home to your brothers. Always. I've done that now so just… go"

The last word almost sounds desperate and I know Mikey heard that too. I give him one last wave before turning around and not looking back, afraid that I'll stay if I look at his crestfallen face another time.

I'm glad I've walked him home though. He stubbornly keeps the nunchaku in his belt but we all know he can't fight with them anymore. Even the slightest movements in his shoulders will cause spasms which often results in either him hitting himself with the wooden weapons or dropping them. I know he still tries to fight with them though. I've seen bruises on his legs and a couple on his lower arm.

Without me noticing I place one of my hands on my sai. I pull it back in surprise and grab the weapon out of my leather belt. A small piece of paper is tied around it with an elastic band and for a moment I wonder how deep in thought I must have been for me not noticing it being slipped around it.

Happy 18th birthday, you stupid, stubborn Hothead. Hope to see you later, Mikey.

And despite myself I smirk. The kid knows me far too well. And for one night, I decide I can do without doing my usual rounds. I can take a break, get myself a beer somewhere and celebrate the day of our supposed to be birth on my own.

"The freak!"

Or not.

Yeah, loved the ending, didn't you guys? :D Now please leave reviews and stuff and as promised I'm gonna reply to everything and review every story I've missed over the last week very soon. So be patient with me ;) Also, I was kinda in a good mood so this chapter isn't as dark yet. Just a fair warning hehe.

See ya guys!