-Redemption-

Summary: Takes place during the 2007 CGI movie. Leo finds out who the Night Watcher is in a completely different way...

Disclaimer: I do not own the turtles. *Imagines what it would be like if I did and grins evilly*

A/n: A big thanks to my new Beta Amonraphoenix for taking the time to read over my work and turn it into something worth reading. Also a shout out to her friend, DarkUnderworld for also having a read-over. A big thank you indeed you two!

Warnings for swearing and blood and a hurt Raphie :(

~Raphael's POV~

Everything hurt. It hurt to move any part of my body. It hurt to swallow and even just to breathe. It was painful to even keep my eyes open. I couldn't understand why they wanted me to keep them open when it hurt so much. Didn't they realize that this simple action caused me pain? I was too disoriented to listen to the logic behind their actions. I couldn't quite hear or understand their strangled apologies as they tried to gently move me; instead they caused pain to erupt over every inch of my mangled body.

Why were they doing this? Why did they keep moving me? I asked myself plaintively. I felt like a ragdoll; a broken toy lying limply in their arms, helpless to stop them from torturing me anymore.

My world was now filled with a cacophony of noises. Everything was so loud. I could hear the rain as it fell onto the road and onto my skin. It felt like I was being punched by an iron fist every time a cold drop landed on me. I could hear people panting and breathing heavily. It sounded like a tornado blowing right next to my ears. I could hear footsteps getting louder, and it was like the whole world was shaking. I could hear my own groans and whimpers, coming out as broken noises an animal would make if it were in agony...or dying.

A small part of my brain, the part that wasn't being consumed by agonizingly blinding pain, was telling me that I should be pushing these people away. I should be angry that they were treating me like a child. I should be angry that I was behaving like a snivelling child. I should be walking myself, not letting them carry me like an infant. I should be yelling at them that I was fine, and that I didn't need them to baby and coddle me. I shouldn't just be lying here whimpering and groaning pitifully in a pool of my own blood.

But even if I wanted to move myself, I couldn't. My body felt like it had been cut open, stuffed with lead, and then sewed back together inside out. My right leg felt like it was being squeezed in a hot vice covered in acid, crushing and burning it at the same time. It felt like someone had stabbed me in the lungs and ribs with their bare hands before trying to rip out the delicate flesh. Why did it hurt so much to just simply breathe? I screamed in my head. It felt like someone was trying to pull rusty barbed-wire through every cell of my body; and my head felt like someone was repeatedly hitting it with a crowbar.

I could feel the numbing darkness hovering over in the corner of my consciousness. All I had to do was reach out and touch it, and it would flow onto my skin like ink and make me forget everything. But every time I reached out for the comforting numbness of the inky void, a voice or movement would bring me jarringly back to the brutal present; shoving the welcoming darkness away from my outstretched, pleading fingers.

I couldn't understand why these people were being so cruel...so heartless. Why couldn't they just leave me alone? Every time I went back to try and grab the blessed void again, more voices and more movements would send it racing away from my fingertips, until it was so far away that I couldn't reach it, no matter how much I wanted to.

With each agonizing moment that passed, I became more aware of things around me. The pain was like the sun on a cloudy day; hidden at times, but always there. I started to hear and notice other things too. The rough calloused hands that were holding me tenderly; the warm breath of someone close that sent shivers across my skin. The feel of fabric under me, and the softness of a blanket cushioning my head.

Everything made more sense now. My brothers must have found me. I thought to myself in relief. We're in the battle-shell. Casey's driving at least thirty kilometres over the speed limit. Everyone is fussing over and touching me. Usually I hate being touched, but there's something comforting about their touches now that makes me not want to push them away.

April's somewhere to my left, gently stroking my cheek. The gesture feels foreign, but not exactly unpleasant. Mikey's leaning over my left side to. Touching me like I'm made of glass or something that could break at any moment.

I can hear Don shuffling around somewhere above my head, though I can't tell what he's doing exactly. And then there's Leo. He's sitting by my right side and holding my hand tightly in his own. His hand is warm and comforting. I can hear him telling me to keep my eyes open. It's hard to do, but I manage to open my eyes just enough to see out of. The light hurts my eyes, and is too bright so I quickly squeeze them closed again.

I can feel Don running his hands gently up and down my body and poking and prodding at my delicate flesh. It hurts and I try to tell him this, but all that comes out is another pitiful, anguished filled moan.

I can feel something rolling down my cheek, and Leo gently wipes it away. I wonder if it was sweat, blood or a tear.

I can hear Leo telling Casey to drive faster, and feel the rumbling of the engine as he complies at the request. I try to open my eyes again and just manage to pry them open the very tinniest of slits. I can just make out Leo's blurry face above mine. His brow is all scrunched up, and he has that look on his face whenever he's nervous or afraid. You don't see that a lot. Usually Leo's always in control and he schools his (features) into this blank expression most of the time. Now though, he's as easy to read as I am.

Thoughts of the fight we had before all this mess happened, spring unbidden to my mind, momentarily making me forget about the pain. I wince and grip Leo's hand tighter as the memories assault me, and my heart wrenches with guilt.

"Why do you have to be so difficult all the time?" Leo snarled at me.

"Why can't ya' just leave me alone once in a while? Ever since ya' got back ya've been goin' on and on about you, about how sorry you are for not returning sooner. How you're a much better leader now. I swear ta' God Leo I can't breathe with you yelling at me every God damn hour of the day!" I hissed back.

"I'm not yelling at you, I'm trying to figure you out Raph. Your rogue attitude is doing nothing for your training or your family." Leo said in frustration.

"What are ya' sayin'?" I asked him dangerously.

"I'm saying that your constant anger and disregard for following my orders almost had us killed when we fought that monster on the roof the other night." He pointed out brutally which just made me angrier, mostly because I knew he was right, which made me furious. "You think I would purposely endanger my family? What the fuck is wrong with you? I would never hurt this family Leo, do you understand me?" I had questioned, stung by the accusation, turning to run so that I wouldn't have to face the accusation held within my brother's eyes.

"Raphael, get back here!"

"No! I'm done with you. I'm done with all of you!" I shouted at him, ashamed of my own actions and unable to deal with my brother's temper or my own.

I felt the hot sting of tears in my eyes and tried to push them back. I would not cry damn it! I would not cry! I repeated to myself in silent mantra.

And then all the pain, and the guilt I had been feeling from everything I had said, vanished. The pain of my injuries returned in full force, hitting me like a tonne of bricks.

I can't remember if I cried out or bucked, or kicked. I could still see Leo hovering anxiously over me. His eyes were wide and he was gripping my hand and telling me something, but his words seemed faint, like I was underwater and couldn't hear him properly. My vision was starting to grow more blurry and black dots flickered before my eyes, making the world hazy.

"I'm…sorry," I managed to croak out before the pain pulled me under and the black cloud took a hold of me as the world went black.

A/n: Don't forget to leave a review! I'd love to know what you thought thus-far :-)