Never fear, I have not given up on this fic, nor has writer's block struck me. I have merely gone back to work and can't update as often as I was. But as long as people are being amused…(and that includes myself)…I will keep on writing this one. pops champagne cork and passes it around to all those of legal age

As a child, Raphael had always been more comfortable in his father's room. The old rocking chair in the corner and the soft futon bed, were both memories of safety and love. But Raphael could never find it in his heart to tell his sensei just how much he HATED the scent of the jasmine incense he burned.

So it was, that he sat with Splinter in his room, trying not to puke at the smell. He sighed and watched Sensei light a few candles. While Splinter's room did have a lamp, his sensei seemed to prefer the light from the flame. Raphael always thought it had something to do with his father's sensitive eyes. Rats tended to move in the darkness. Maybe the light hurt Splinter's eyes.

"There are things that we discussed yesterday, Raphael, when you had refused this exercise," Splinter began sitting across from his son.

Raphael exhaled slowly. His muscles unknotted and he realized that he had been bracing himself for a scolding on the near miss in the kitchen. In his mind's eye he could hear his sensei shouting …

"How many times have I TOLD you…You are not to blow up the lair?"

Although to be quite honest, that was one lecture Raphael could never remember hearing. Donnie, maybe, but not him.

"Obviously, you did not listen," the master continued. "Or you did not believe me. I still detect much doubt in you."

Raphael debated whether to answer or not. Finally he said, "I listened."

"Then you do not believe me." Splinter sighed. "Raphael…"

"Do I gotta catch something on fire before you realize?" Raphael interrupted somewhat heatedly. "I ain't Donnie. I ain't as smart as Donnie. Leo or Mike, that I could do. But Don? I just know know all the technical shit."

For a wonder, his sensei let the language, and the interrupting slide. "As I told you last night, Raphael. Not one of my sons is smarter than the other." You need not blow up the lair to prove it.

Bullshit, Raphael thought, but didn't say it out loud. No sense in pushing his luck. He just shook his head. "Look, I can't read a book in ten minutes. Or put together a computer from spare parts."

"And who is to say these things are a measure of how smart you are? There is more to intelligence than book learning, My Son." Splinter had tried explaining this to Raphael the day before. His son's brief rebellion against the exercise had come from a desire to not appear stupid in Donatello's shadow. It was a legitimate complaint and one that Splinter took seriously.

He had assured Raphael that he was not being set up to appear foolish. He had to only try. Still under protest, Raphael agreed to the challenge, but the master could tell that his son still had doubts. It was quite apparent to the rat, that his son was trying...perhaps a bit too hard. He did not wish anyone injured with Raphael's attempts to be like Donatello. He only wanted for his son to realize that he was as intelligent as his brother. In a different way.

Raphael frowned. "The only thing Donnie wants me to do today is change light bulbs. How's that for a way to measure smarts?"

Splinter was quiet for a moment. "You can do things that Donatello cannot, Raphael," he said. "You instincts serve you very well, My Son. You can be a very good judge of people and situations. Take Mr Jones for example. Your insight into his character gave us a very good ally."

Raphael shook his head slightly. "That's different." There was no heat behind the answer and he didn't sound as certain as he once had.

His sensei smiled warmly. "Yes, it is a different area of your brain you are using. But it is still your brain." He was glad to see his son was beginning to understand.

"Donnie mentioned something 'bout the security system," Raphael began slowly. "I don't know all that high tech stuff, but maybe…" He shrugged. "Least it sounds interesting."

"Then it appears you have something to occupy your time. Along with all of the light bulbs."

"Yeh." Raph stood and bowed feeling a little better about the whole situation. If he could get Mike's radio fixed and the bathroom door, then he should have some time to think about the lair's security system. Maybe he can ask Don to explain what he's got so far…In English, not "techno-speak Donnie babble." He went to leave and thought of something. He turned to his sensei.

"Master, if none of us are smarter than the other…how do you explain Mike?" There was a teasing tone to Raphael's voice and he couldn't wait to hear what Splinter came up with for this one.

"That is quite easy, My Son," Splinter said simply. "It is as much a mystery as the life after this one and one I do not try to explain. Just…" He faltered for a moment. "…just take my word for it."

Abandoning the rest of the chores for the time being, Don went to the dojo. Mike's extra hour was nearly up and he figured there would be no better moment to try to scrub his message off.
When he arrived at the dojo, Mike was putting back the heavy bags that he had obviously been working out with. Don was surprised to see the thin layer of sweat on his brother's forehead.

"Hey Donnie," Mike greeted. "What can I, your great and wonderful Leader, do for you? Need some advice? Brothers giving you problems? Are we under attack?"

"No Mike," Don said rolling his eyes. "It's actually something I can do for you."

Mike grinned. "For me? Aw Don, you're the best. Hold on, let me get dried off then you can rub my feet." He grabbed his towel from the bench in the corner and dried his face.

"Rub your..?" Don made a face trying not to gag at the suggestion. "No way in hell."

Mike held up his foot and wiggled his toes in Don's face. "Cmon Don-San. Don't you know how important it is to suck up to the leader?" He spun when Don pushed his foot out of the way and caught himself before he fell.

"I don't rub Leo's feet, and I am not rubbing yours," he said frowning.

Mike laughed. "Ohhh I think I detect a bit of a Brooklyn accent, Raphatello." He coughed and got a serious look on his face. "So, what is it you want to do for me?"

Don's eyes narrowed and for a brief moment, he considered saying "never mind" and leaving his brother to be a walking poster for the day. That's what Raph would do. However, the nice brother in him won out.

"Come with me. I gotta show you something."

Leonardo tapped his fingers on his desk. He needed to come up with some way to help teach his brother a little lesson. He had thought that his long list of things to do, would help Mike understand that being leader was not all fun and games. But if anything else, Mike was turning being leader into one great big game.

He wouldn't be able to do it on his own. That was for sure. Maybe with Raph's help…no. With Don's help. No one drove him crazy like Raphael. No one tested his "leader" abilities like Raphael. And with Don being Raph for the day….

YES!

It was perfect. Now he had to get Donnie to agree to the little life lesson.