A/n: Well guys, this is it; the final chapter and epilogue for Redemption! Agh, it has been such an amazing ride. I never actually thought I would finish this story. The idea just came to me one night and I started writing the first chapter. People seemed to like it, so I wrote more and more until I couldn't stop! Your amazing, awe-inspiring reviews kept my creative juices flowing and my plot bunnies happy. When Amonraphoenix and DarkUnderworld offered to be my Betas', the story really began to pick up and many new ideas were created and my plot bunnies were running wild! Then, before I knew it, I was out of chapters and realised with a sudden jolt that this story was finally completed. So, my dear, faithful readers, I offer you my thanks. Thank you to everyone for reading, reviewing, adding to your favourites and following this piece. It means so much to me and with every new review I received I smiled like a child going to Disney Land. I never expected to reach over 100 reviews for a story, but here I am now with over 200!

And a big thank you to my two amazing and wonderful Betas', Amonraphoenix and DarkUnderworld for your endless patience, persistence and amazing ideas that have made this story what it is today. Thank you for all the time and effort you put into each little sentence, and thank you for always having a plentiful supply of carrots for my plot bunnies!

Oh, and one thing before I send you all off, please make sure you read the A/n: at the bottom of the chapter. I assure you it will be worth your time and won't disappoint. Now please, enjoy this final chapter!

-Chapter Twenty Eight-

-Raphael-

The sound of his fists connecting repeatedly with his beloved boxing bag was oddly calming. The repetitive thump, thump, thump, echoed through the dojo and around the lair, filling him with a resigned calm he knew he could only achieve through physical activity. One, two, three, four, he counted the numbers in his head as his fists hit the hard and well-worn leather of the boxing bag. But they were just that; numbers, nothing more. One; he could hear the screech of tires burning on the asphalt; the acrid scent filling his nose even through the sealed helmet.Two; he could hear the loud bang of a gun being fired. Three;he could feel his bones breaking and his flesh being scraped from his body as he smashed into the rough tarmac at an alarming speed. Four; he could feel his heart beating wildly in his chest as he dragged himself deeper and deeper into the trees. Five; he could feel the immense heat of the iron poker as it descended closer towards his eye. Six; he could feel the icy fire that raced through his body as the poker touched his eye, plunging him into a dark inferno that set all his nerve endings ablaze. Seven; he could hear his own hoarse screams of fear and anguish as he watched his brothers drown one by one.Eight; he could see the terrified looks on his brothers' faces as he fell in what felt like an eternal free-fall in slow motion towards the concrete floor two stories below. Nine; he could hear the sickening crack of the pins inside his leg exploding. Ten; he could see nothing but darkness.

The sounds of approaching footsteps snapped Raphael out of his dark swirling thoughts. Turning, he saw Casey walk into the dojo, hands stuffed in his pockets and a warm smile on his face.

"Hey, Casey, long time no see," Raph grinned, letting his arms fall by his sides, boxing bag forgotten.

"Hey, Raph, good to see you too, Man," Casey greeted warmly, grasping Raph's hand in his, in their traditional greeting. "I would have visited sooner, but things are so hectic at home at the moment; you know, trying to sort out the wedding details and all that."

"Yeah, I can imagine. So how ya' feel about it? Can't believe ya' getting married, Case."

"Yeah, me either," Casey admitted with a chuckle rubbing the back of his neck in embarrassment. "It's crazy, but amazing. So, how's the leg?" He asked, his face turning serious.

"It's okay," Raph shrugged, glancing down at his fake leg. It was a little bigger and bulkier than his left leg to add extra strength and help him support his weight. It was a shade lighter than his skin, and when he brushed his hand against it, it was cold to the touch. "Still getting used to it, you know?"

"Must be hard," Casey said sympathetically, blue eyes studying the fake limb.

"Every time I bump into something I expect to feel it, but…nada. I mean, I look at it, and it's like I can still feel it, but only when I think about it."

"I'm glad you're okay man," Casey said sincerely. "These past few months…they haven't been easy. We nearly lost you, twice. I'm just glad to see you up and about again; it's good to know that my best man will be able to stand by my side when I say 'I do'."

"Wow, Casey…I…thanks man," Raphael said, lost for words as the full impact of what Casey was saying washed over him.

"I wouldn't have it any other way," Casey smiled, a full, relieved smile, something Raphael hadn't seen on him for a long time. "I'll see you at the wedding."

"You bet, wouldn't miss it," Raph grinned, watching Casey wave goodbye before he walked out of the dojo, his steps lighter than they had been for weeks.

"Hey, Raph."

"Hey, Don."

Don slowly walked into the dojo, his chocolate brown eyes fixated on Raphael's leg, like he was making sure it was still there. Dragging his eyes away from Raphael's leg, he fixed him with a warm smile.

"I have something I want to show you, if you have a minute?" Donnie asked excitedly.

"Sure," Raph shrugged, following him out of the dojo, a slight limp to his walk. He was still getting used to his fake leg, and Don had told him that he may always have a slight limp, but Raphael was determined to prove him wrong.

Don led him out into the 'garage', glancing over his shoulder every now again to make sure that Raph wouldn't trip over any of the spare parts and random bits and pieces of scrap that littered the floor.

In the centre of the room was a cleared out space, a large sheet covering the bulk that lay underneath; one of Donnie's many projects, Raphael guessed.

"All right, what do ya' want ta' show me,Braniac?" Raphael asked, leaning against the workbench for support. He was getting better and better at walking, every day, but it still wore him out.

"I've been working on this for a while now," Don explained, stopping in front of the sheet-covered bulk, gently laying a hand on the covered surface. "I finally finished it last night."

Frowning, Raphael watched in confusion as Don pulled the sheet away with a practised move. His confusion quickly turned to awed shock. For there, gleaming and shinning under the florescent lights, was Raphael's bike; the same, beautiful, sleek bike he had rode when he was the Night Watcher. The same beautiful bike that had been brutally destroyed and twisted into an unrecognizable pile of metal the night he had first gotten injured. But it didn't look like that anymore. Donnie had rebuilt it from the bottom up. There wasn't a single dent or scratch or any sign that it had ever been used or destroyed. The only difference was a strange metal bar that curved off one side of the bike.

"I've been working on this since we first brought you home," Don explained with a sheepish smile. "At first I did it for a distraction, spending all my free time down here fixing it when I wasn't fixing you."

"Don…I don't know what to say," Raph stammered, lost for words at the heartfelt gesture.

"You don't have to say anything," Don smiled softly. "I was glad to do it."

"It looks amazing, Donnie, just like new," Raph said, running his hands lovingly over the shinning black exterior.

"Thanks," Don blushed at the sincere praise. "Oh, and this is new, it's what I've been working on for the past two weeks," Don said, pointing to the metal bracket on the right side of the bike. "It's to hold your new leg," he explained at Raph's confused look. "Your new leg will mould into that, and it'll hold it steady while you ride."

"Donnie…I…thank you so much," Raphael stammered, wrapping his arms tightly around his brother in a rare gesture of affection as he fought to keep his voice from shaking; trying to hold back the grateful tears that threatened to fall.

Don grinned, lifting a polished black helmet from the handlebars."Well go on, what are you waiting for? Take it for a spin already."

The roar of the engine made Raphael's heart surge with adrenaline. He let out a delighted whoop as the wind whipped past him, the world turning into a blur as he raced past, unchained and free into the moon-lit night. The bike was even better than it used to be. It ran a lot smoother, faster, and was a lot louder, much to Raphael's delight. The bracket that Don had designed for his leg worked like a charm, keeping it mobilised at the high speeds he was currently going. Raphael hadn't felt this alive in months, and the feeling filled him up from within, threatening to overflow. It was just him, his bike, and the endless night before him.

He rode for hours, the full moon rising higher and higher into the star-speckled sky. He didn't realize where he was going until he got there. The stretch of road where he had had his accident that changed his life forever. The stretch of road was quiet and deserted. Raphael felt his heart start to pound faster in his chest. Slowing down to a sluggish crawl, Raphael carefully examined the area, his eye scanning the road, for what, he didn't really know.

If anyone had happened across the area, they wouldn't have been able to immediately tell that an accident had happened here. There were still a few skid marks on the road, and a little further down there was a dent in the guardrail where the bike had pinned Raphael, but that was it. The blood had been scrubbed from the asphalt, and any bits of shrapnel and debris had been removed.

A reflection from the moonlight caught Raphael's attention from the side of the road. Turning off his bike, Raphael slowly slid off, carefully stretching his bad leg, before cautiously making his way over to the thick bushes that lined the road.

And there, lying abandoned in a patch of weeds on the side of the road was his Night Watcher helmet. It was battered and broken, and almost unrecognizable. But what Raphael found amazing was the fact that, though it wasn't shiny and new anymore, it was still intact, months after the accident.

Just like he was.

A/n: And…that's a wrap everybody! Whoa, we did it! I dearly hope you all liked the last chapter, and I hope you will like the epilogue even more so! BUT, before you hurry off to read the epilogue, I have some very exciting news for you all!

….

…

..

.

And that news is…there will be a, wait for it, a SEQUAL! Yes, that's right, my Betas' and I have not yet finished weaving this tale just yet. Raphael's journey is not over; we have plenty more installed for him and his brothers'! So, be on the lookout for Retribution, the sequel to Redemption! So I'll say it again, be on the lookout for Retribution,it will be out soon.

Now, please, off to read the epilogue!

~Cat