Ch 7 Raph's Tale

Beeb

"Leo, I know your there, please pick up...Sigh...Okay. Please call me. I miss you." Click

Beeb.

"Leo, will you please speak to me. I need to talk to you. I...I love you." Click

Beeb.

"Leo, I'm not giving up on us. Please call me back." Click

Beeb.

"Leo, I've left message after message. Will you please call me back and stop acting like this! I don't deserve this and you know it!" Click.

"Raphael has left several messages Leonardo." Irma walked over to the kitchen table and sat down across from Leo. "Why don't you call him?"

"I can't just yet Auntie." Leo looked up at her with sad eyes. "I just need more time."

"Leonardo, you've had a week to deal with what he did." She scolded. "Raphael is right, he doesn't deserve this." She took a sip of her coffee. "And you don't either, you've been moping around here completely miserable. You need to talk to him."

Leo took a heavy sigh. "I love him." He admitted to her. "But now I'm not sure where I want this relationship to go."

"What do you mean hon?"

"I don't know if I can trust him Auntie." Leo explained. "He's been lying about so much..."

"Lying or just not admitting his past?"

"Is there a difference?"

"Yes there is." Irma stressed. "Did you know I was married before?"

Leo looked up at her. "I kinda had a hunch." He admitted. "I figured you were just divorced. What happened?"

Irma looked down sadly at her coffee and Leo felt rather embarrassed. "Sorry auntie, I didn't mean to pry."

"No, it's okay." She assured him. "It's been almost ten years and it still kinda hurts to talk about it."

"He passed away?" She nodded. "How?"

"He was killed."

"Oh Aunt Irma." Leo looked at her horrified. "I'm so sorry."

She smiled at him tenderly. "It's okay, I've put it behind me. But that's a part of my past that meant nothing to you til now right?"

"I guess so."

"Did it matter before?"

"No, but if it was to affect my future, shouldn't I know about it."

Irma chucked. "I guess so, but whose to say when and if that's going to happen?"

Leo smiled. "I suppose you're right." He admitted. "You sound a bit like Master Splinter."

They laughed then Irma got serious. "We all make mistakes sweetie, you just need to learn how to forgive those mistakes before you regret what happens when you don't."

Leo nodded and sighed. "I'll talk to Raph Auntie, soon but not yet, I'm just not ready."

Ding Dong

Irma patted his hand, got up from the kitchen table and walked over to her apartment door. Leo, thinking it was Raph, quickly got up from the table and went to his room. He thought about what his aunt had just said and decided he should at least go back to work. he would see where things went when he got there. Both he and his aunt had been home from work since he came home from the hospital almost a week ago. Physically, he was fine, the bruises and scars had almost vanished and the bandages had come off, even the sling was no longer necessary.

Mentally, he was exhausted. He had wrestled with himself over what to do. His aunt had not had any further strange phone calls in the night, at least, not that he was aware of, and he did miss Raph something awful. He was finding it hard to sleep and every night, he would get up and make his way to the living room and stare at the wall where he was sure he had seen his mother's spirit. Occasionally, he would creep to his aunt's door and listen, but he would hear nothing and he was beginning to think maybe he had been mistaken about what he thought he heard, and seen.

A knock on his door brought him out of his thoughts. He looked up at his Aunt who was opening the door and poking her head in. "It's Michelangelo." She told him. "He wants to speak with you, will you speak with him?" She looked at him with a stern look that told him to get his ass out of his room and come and talk.

Leo stood up and went out to the living room where Mikey sat. He still had his head wrapped but he definitely looked so much better. Leo smiled and walked over to him. Mikey stood and they gave each other a hug and sat on the couch.

"How have you been?" Mikey asked.

"I think I should be asking you that." Leo said with a chuckle. He turned serious. "I've been fine. You?"

Mikey nodded. "Doing good. Going back to work next Monday. Apparently I'm very missed." He chuckled. "Lot's of kids not happy that Cowabunga Carl has taken some time off." He sighed deeply. "And I miss not being there." He gave Leo a stern look. "When are you going back to work. Sensei really misses you." He lowered his eyes. "And so does Raphie."

Leo nodded. "I know he does Mike." He told him. "The forty something messages he's left pretty much was a good clue."

"Then call him!" Mikey almost shouted. "Come back to work." He urged. "Stop being such a baby about everything and get back into life."

Leo looked at Mikey wide-eyed, surprised by his sudden outburst. He then relaxed and smiled. "Okay Mike." He laid a gentle hand on Mike's arm. "I'll be there on Monday." Mikey relaxed and grinned at him. "But no promises that I'll speak with Raph right away." He quickly added.

Mikey shook his head. "Just give him a chance Leo. Please."

Leo nodded and laid his head against the back of the couch. "I will. Soon. I promise." They sat in silence for a moment. Finally, Leo turned to Mikey. "So how is Renet?" He asked. "What happened when she found out about..." He swallowed hard and his voice trialed off.

Mikey smiled wide. "Ah wow Leo, the next day when she came to the hospital, she was all over me." He laughed. "I never knew being hurt could be so enjoyable. She brought me goodies to eat, stayed with me and fluffed my pillow, made me comfortable." He laid back and smiled. "It was nice to be pampered." He looked serious for a moment. "I'm really going to have to find a way to pay her back though. She was so scared for me."

Leo nodded, thinking of how his aunt felt when she first saw him and heard about Michelangelo. "Have the police called you down yet?"

"Yeah, and I was happy to do it. Especially since Raph has been threatening to go after them. At this point, they're safer in jail." He joked. "But I'm looking forward to putting those jackasses away for good." He said with anger in his eyes.

"Yeah, me too." Leo agreed. "Hopefully for good." They talked for a few more minutes then Mikey said goodbye and left.

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Raph zipped up his jacket against the cold and stood by his truck. He stared down the street waiting once again for Leo to come to work. He had been doing this for the last week and a half, but no matter how long he stood and stared, Leo never showed up. He looked at the time on his cell phone, eight thirty five. He had to leave now if he wanted to get to school before nine. He took a deep breath, got into the warm truck and drove off.

Leo arrived at the Hamato household at eight forty five, certain Raph would be gone by then. After all this time, he still couldn't bring himself to face him. He made his way into the home and was immediately greeted by Splinter.

"Leonardo my son." Splinter greeted him. "How are you doing?"

Leo greeted him back. "Much better thank you Sensei." He bowed respectfully to him. "I apologize for not being here before now."

"You needed time to heal and rest." Splinter placed a gentle paw on Leo's shoulder. "But I am glad you are back as I know many of our students will be." He said with a smile.

Leo smiled back, he was just about to walk toward the dojo when two voices called to him.

"LEO!" He turned to see Donnie and Mikey coming toward him with big smiles. "Ah yeah dude!" Mikey said, giving Leo a big hug. "I knew you'd be back."

"It's good seeing you again Leo." Donnie told him as he also gave him a hug. "How have you been?"

"I've been better." Leo looked at Donnie sadly. "How about you?" He asked. "Were you able to speak with Mona and patch things up?"

"Mona and I called it quits a long time ago Leo." He explained. "I think she was hanging with me just to get to Raph."

Leo nodded and looked down at the floor before giving him a sad smile. "I'm sorry Don."

"It's okay Leo, it's been coming for a while now." Donnie said. "Did you talk to Raph?"

Leo looked away and shook his head. "I need more time." He told them

"Dude!" Mikey pointed a finger at Leo which made him back up a bit. "You've had time, any longer and Raph may decide to call it quits."

"Yeah Leo." Donnie chimed in. "You love Raph and Raph loves you." He shook his head. "What's the problem?"

"I don't know." Leo moaned. "I guess I...I feel ashamed for what happened." He lowered his eyes. "I just can't face him right now."

Donnie and Mikey exchanged looks and nodded at each other. "Okay Leo." Donnie clapped his hand on Leo's shoulder. "But don't wait too long, okay." He waved a hand at everyone. "Off to work, see you at four."

"Yeah, Renet's gonna be here any moment, see you later." Mikey quickly took off.

Leo watched them go, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "They're up to something." He muttered to himself.

The day went well and Leo was happy to be back, and his students were ecstatic to see him back. They quickly fell back into their routine and before Leo knew it, it was four and the last class was over. He gathered his things and cleaned the dojo, it only took fifteen minutes and he was ready to go home.

He bade farewell to Splinter and was just about to walk out the door when he heard a voice call to him.

"Hey Leo." It was Mikey. "Aren't you staying for dinner?" He poked his head out the kitchen door and smiled. "I'm making your favorite. A pizza with jelly beans, jalapeno and anchovies. Um um."

Leo cringed. "I believe that's your favorite Mikey." He told him with a small chuckle. "But I can't stay, I have to get home and...um...do some stuff."

Mikey gave him a dubious look. "Really Leo?" He shook his head. "Your just trying to avoid Raph."

"I just can't face him right now Mike."

"Okay, but can you do me just one favor before you go."

"Sure."

"My hands are covered with pizza dough and I forgot to get the crushed red pepper. Could you get it for me please."

Leo walked further into the kitchen and went into the pantry. He looked at the shelf that held all Mikey's seasonings but could not find the one he was looking for."Where is it Mi..."

CLICK

Leo whirled around at the sound of the door closing and gasped. Standing in front of him was Raphael, a look of anger and hurt on his face. "How long are you going to keep punishing me?" He demanded.

Leo blinked at him, stunned and unable to find his voice. He pushed past him and tried to open the door but it was locked.

"Damn it Mikey!" He banged on the door. "Let me outta here."

"Not till you two talk!" Mikey told him from the other side.

"MIKEY!" Leo rattled the door hard.

"Sorry Leo." Mikey chirped. "I have a pizza to make and family to serve, you two have fun."

Raph walked over to Leo and put his hands on Leo's shoulders. Leo shuddered at the touch he missed so badly. "Hear me out Leo. If after I'm done talking, you still want to go, then I'll have Mikey let you out." He spoke quietly and soothingly.

Leo took a deep breath as he felt Raph's breath ghost across his neck. "I...I thought...you weren't going to be home till after four thirty?"

"Last class is an easy one." Raph told him. "I turned in my paper and left instead of staying for the lecture."

Leo nodded but refused to turn around. He leaned his head against the door and swallowed hard. "Why couldn't you just tell me the truth about you and Mona?" He asked. "If you loved her..."

"I never loved her Leo." Raph took a deep breath and walked over to the end of the pantry and sat down. "I've never loved her the way she wanted me to."

Leo finally turned around and looked over at Raph. "I don't need to know your whole past Raph, but you knew Mona was going to be here, you could've at least told me more about her and you." Leo sighed hard. "I find out about you two on valentine's day, you and the purple dragons on New Year's, and I find out you had a bit of past with the police!" Leo leaned against the door and looked up at the ceiling, his eyes filled with tears. "Is there anything else I SHOULD know about?"

Raph looked at him and shook his head. "It's a long story so sit down and I'll tell you about it."

Leo sighed and finally walked over to Raph, he sat down and gave Raph his full attention.

"You know my mom died when my bros and I were about seven." Leo nodded. "After that, I just never really accepted her death. She was the only one who really understood me and I missed her something fierce, still do. So I started becoming more of a troubled kid, gave Sensei and my bros a real hard time. Skipped school, let my grades slide." Raph shook his head. "Eventually, I started hanging with the wrong kinda crowd."

"The purple dragons." Leo commented.

Raph nodded. "Hooked up with them in middle school and first two years of high school, and yeah, we screwed each other." Leo looked down in disgust. "Trust me, I'm not happy about it. When I was in tenth grade, They got me into drugs and alcohol." Raph leaned his head back against the wall and Leo saw a tear roll down his cheek. "I met Mona at that time and she tried to help me turn my life around. Then I...we...me and the purple dragons, did a stupid thing." Raph closed his eyes as the memory came back to him. "We were driving around town late one night and eventually went into a liquor store. I thought we were just getting something to drink." Raph gave a light chuckle. "Fong had a fake ID. I went to the back of the store to grab some beers, next thing I know I hear a loud bang." Raph had a far away look in his eyes and swallowed hard. "Then I hear Fong shouting for us to grab the drinks and scram. I didn't get any drinks but I did run when I heard the alarm go off. Cops were at the scene within seconds. I ran to Mona's house thinking she would cover for me." Raph suddenly smiled. "But not only would she not cover for me, she wouldn't let me in her house. Called the cops instead and next thing I know, I'm in the slammer with Fong and the others."

"What happened in the store?" Leo asked.

"Store owner was shot by Fong but he lived. Picked out Fong and the rest of the guys but he never saw me so while they were sent to jail for attempted homicide, I was let out on probation, had to do community service and get my grades up as well and not skip school ever again. The judge had me go into a rehab and gave me a stern talking to. Told me I should be grateful someone was willing to have me arrested and force me to shape up. I guess I thought I owed Mona my life so for the rest of high school we dated. I think she thought we were going to get married but a week after graduation, I told her I was taking Casey out to LA so he could be with April. I guess Mona was hoping when I got back we'd pick up where we left off. I'd get my life together and we'd walked down the aisle." Raph paused and gave Leo an uncertain look. "Thing was Leo, I never loved her, I never loved anyone really. Sure I had sex with Mona and...others." He looked away again in shame before looking back at Leo. "But in all honesty Leo, you're the first person I've ever really made love to because you're the first one I've ever really loved."

Leo looked at him and scooted over to where he sat. He wrapped his arms around him and brought him into a hug. "You're the only one I've ever even been with." Leo told him. "Because from the time I met you, everything felt right." He leaned back and looked at him. "And it still does." They stared into each other's eyes. "I don't care about your past Raph, I love you for who you are." Raph smiled at Leo. "Just don't hide who you are from me, talk to me, tell me the truth, if it's something bad, we'll work through it." Raph smiled and stroke Leo's cheek.

"Okay babe." He agreed. They smiled and leaned into a kiss.

After they broke the kiss, Raph stood up and went over to his backpack and pulled out a book. The cover was red with blue stripes and large gold letters that read: THE STORY OF US.

Raph looked at Leo wtih a sly smile. "I found this after you ran out that day." He admitted. "I love how you started the story with how we met." He handed Leo the book. Leo opened it and noted that the first few pages were the ones that he wrote, he then noticed that beginning on Valentine's day, Raph took up the story. Leo looked back at Raph with a happy look. "You continued it?"

Raph nodded and then pulled a small blue wrapped box from his pocket. "I bought this for you on Valentine's day, I was gonna give it to you when..." He swallowed and looked at Leo hesitantly. "I'd like to give it to you now."

Leo stood and looked at Raph questioningly. He took the box and unwrapped it. Upon opening the box, his eyes widen and he let out a choked gasped. He looked up at Raph with a mixture of emotions crossing his face. "Raph?"

"Leo, I wanted to give this to you as a way to make our relationship exclusive." He pulled out a gold ring with a deep blue sapphire in the middle and red stones surrounding it." Now I want to give it to you in hopes that maybe..." He got on one knee and held the ring up. "You'd consent to marry me?"

Tears fell from Leo's eyes as Raph placed the ring on his finger. He nodded as he accepted the ring. "Oh yes Raph!" He cried out. Raph stood and smiled at Leo. "Of course I'll marry you!" He lunged forward and gave Raph an exuberant hug. They kissed deeply and passionately while outside the door, Mikey and Donnie listened with intent curiosity.

"My sons." Splinter walked up behind them. "What are you doing?"

Mikey brought his hands to his mouth to stifle a giggle. "We're listening to Raph and Leo Sensei."

"Yeah." Donnie said with a smile. "They've been talking for a while now."

"You boys should not be eavesdropping on your brother and Leonardo while..."

The door suddenly opened and Raph and Leo stepped out with wide smiles on their faces. "I proposed." Raph said breathlessly.

"And I said yes!" Leo said excitedly, holding up his finger with the ring on it.

Donnie and Mikey cheered and hugged Raph and Leo while Splinter stood back and watched. "Is something wrong Sensei?" Raph asked.

Splinter looked from one turtle to the other. "While I am happy for you, I feel you are still very young to be jumping into marriage. You are after all only eighteen." Splinter pointed out.

"We're not just going to run off and get married Sensei." Raph glared.

"It's alright Sensei." Leo said, he gave Raph a 'calm down now' look. "This was something we talked about while we were trapped in the pantry." He glared at Mikey, who grinned rather sheepishly" And we both agree that Raph needs to complete his education first and get a job." He explained. "After, we'll look into a date for the wedding, maybe sometime in the next two years." He smiled at Raph and they leaned in for a kiss.

Splinter nodded approvingly. "Then I give you my blessing." He told them. "This is cause for celebration and Leonardo, you should call your aunt and have her come over and join us in the celebration."

Smiling, Leo took out his cell phone and called his aunt's home. The phone rang and eventually went to the answering machine. "Hm, that's strange." Leo said turning to Raph and his family. "She's usually home by now." He frowned at the phone and tried again but again, it went to the answering machine.

"Let's have some dinner and I'll take you home." Raph told him, wrapping his arms around him from behind. "We'll talk to her together."

Leo nodded and the two walked over and joined the family at the table. They sat and enjoyed Mikey's pizza and talked excitedly about wedding plans. After dinner, Leo called home again but again, his Aunt still did not answer. He was starting to get worried. He thought back to the phone call he overheard several nights ago.

"Let's get going Raph." Leo said, putting on his coat. "I'm starting to get worried."

Leo received more hugs from Raph's brothers and Splinter, then went to the truck with Raph. They got to his apartment and Leo turned to Raph. "Let me speak with her first and make sure everything is okay." He told him,

"Why shouldn't things be okay?"

"I'll explain later." Leo remembered he had not had a chance to speak with Raph about what he overheard. "Just give me fifteen minutes then come in." Raph nodded and they kissed one more time before Leo left.

He walked into the building feeling both worried and excited. He made his way into the apartment and looked around. "Auntie?!" He called out. "I have some great news!" He looked around in wonderment. Laying on the floor in front of the door was his aunt's purse. Leo's face frowned when he saw this. His aunt was extremely clean and she couldn't stand not having things put away.

As he looked around the apartment, a strange smell hit his nose and he started to get a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. He swallowed hard and slowly made his way from the door over to the small kitchen just off the living room. His breath quickened and he began to shake as the smell got stronger the closer he got. He nervously peeked into the entrance and let out a choked sob. He put his hands to his mouth, fighting the urge to vomit at the sight of his aunt laying on the floor, a large pool of blood surrounding her dead body.