Only One
Summary: Splinter began a new life with four sons but the dangers of living in the sewers of New York include sickness, cold and accidents.
Disclaimer: I do not own TMNT. Viacom does.
Three: Accident
Michelangelo and Raphael were definitely a handful for Splinter. The two three-year-olds had enough energy to practically power the entirety of New York City for an hour and they were constantly underfoot when they weren't alternatively playing or fighting with each other. In order to focus their energy Splinter had begun to direct them in the movements of basic katas with a mind to begin training them with a focus to begin their training to become ninjas before another year had passed.
Raphael took to the training like a duck to water and while Michelangelo was skilled as well the cheery boy still had problems with focusing for very long on the katas Splinter directed them in. When his two sons weren't playing, squabbling or practicing they were trailing after him, following just behind Splinter's footsteps as he walked through the labyrinth of the sewers. The habit of following him whenever he left their nook into the sewer and water runoff system was fine with him as it made it easier to keep an eye on them.
The walkways were quite manageable until one summer day a sudden thunderstorm poured out of the skies above New York. The thunderstorm caused a surge of water in the deep center part of the drainage system to overflow onto the walkways on either side by about an inch. Splinter stepped surely along the way, hurrying to return to the safety of the nook with his two sons following close behind.
The three were walking in the path of the flow when, unaware to them, a blockage on the surface was removed and a surge of water almost two feet higher than the current water level began to rapidly rush towards them.
Splinter heard it before he saw it coming and turned in order to gather his sons in his arms so they could move up to higher ground when Michelangelo stepped on a slick brick and fell backwards onto his shell. Raphael noticed his brother fall and stooped over to help him stand back up to his feet, the two of them were still close to the ground when the surge of water came and knocked the both of them over and into the center rapids before Splinter had the chance to grab them.
Without a second thought Splinter dove into the rapids to find them and draw them out. The water was murky and filled with a mishmash of debris which put a hamper in his search and rescue mission. He finally spotted Michelangelo first who managed to pop his head out of the water and was crying up a storm. Splinter grabbed his son from the water and searched for a quick place to leave him.
He found a high ledge overlooking the water and as he sat him up there for safekeeping he sternly ordered, "Stay here while I search for your brother."
Michelangelo, despite his shaking and cries, nodded his head to show that he had heard what Splinter had said. Splinter then turned and dove back into the rushing rapids - searching frantically for Raphael in the water below.
Moving along the bottom of the water, his hands methodically searched for Raphael and when he finally felt his fingers brush across a shell he felt relief. He moved to scoop up his son into his arms but when moving to do so he noted that Raphael was stuck on something in the floor. It was a heavy metal grate and Raphael's foot was stuck between two of the bars. With a strength that surprised him Splinted tore at the bar and found himself able to bend the metal apart in order to free Raphael. He pulled his son close and rushed up to the surface.
Splinter pulled himself and Raphael up onto the walkway feeling hope that both his sons had been saved in time. When he spotted the unnatural angle that Raphael's head was in however the hope that he had been feeling was snuffed out cold.
"My son," Splinter pleaded as he moved his suddenly trembling hands towards Raphael's body. With a heart heavy with fear in what he would discover Splinter solemnly touched the side of Raphael's neck. The lack of a pulse shattered Splinter's own heart into pieces. He had saved one son from death only to lose another.
"Raphie is hurt?" Michelangelo's voice asked worriedly from his perch above.
"He is very hurt," Splinter acknowledged with tears running down his face.
"Raphie will get better?" Michelangelo asked hopefully as tears prickled his own eyes.
"He will not be getting better," Splinter said and his heart shattered more at the sound of his last living son crying over the loss of his only brother and friend.
Late that evening Splinter held vigil with Michelangelo at a third evening funeral and as he watched the flames consume his son Splinter, within his own mind, wished that it had been himself that had died that day so he would not be feeling this pain overtaking him once again.
They say memories are golden, well, maybe that is true. I never wanted memories, I only wanted you.
Three
