Hey guys, sorry it took forever to update. It was just hard for me to write this chapter.

There is only one chapter left of this story! WOOO!

Anyways, I have a poll on my account and this story and my story Lost were voted the most, so I'm updating this one tonight and (hopefully) Lost tomorrow!

PLEASE FORGIVE SPELLING/GRAMMAR MISTAKES!

I DON'T OWN TMNT!

Enjoy! :D

Raphael bounced on the balls of his feet as he waited impatiently in the deep shadows of the alley. He looked over to his older brother Donatello as the said turtle stood watch in the front of the alley; his back pressed against the wall while the moon illuminated a shadow from the other building, giving the ninja a nice cover.

Raph swerved his head as he examined the rest of the alley before putting his gaze back to Donatello. His eyes widened slightly when he saw, not one, but now two turtles gracefully covered in the shadows of the night.

"There's a manhole cover that's closer to the tunnels of our lair a couple blocks away." Donatello explained as he gazed down at his phone; the screen illuminating his face blue.

"I already directed Leatherhead to a good manhole. He'll get to his home before us." Leonardo stated; eyeing Raphael slightly.

Donnie nodded as he tucked the turtle shaped cellphone into his belt. "Let's get going then."

This time Leo faced Raph full on. The red-banded turtle backed up slightly before standing his ground and gazing back. "Come on." Was all that Leo said as he knelt down. Raph gave him a confused look as Leo spun on his heels and had his shell facing Raph. Leo looked over his shoulder. "Get on."

Raph laughed and shook his head. "Oh no, if you guys are running, then I want to run too."

Leo groaned lightly and stood up. He jumped up onto the fire-escape, followed quickly by Donatello. He looked down at Raph. "Coming?"

Raph gawked at the large leap his brother had been able to do with no trouble at all. "Uh, yeah. Go ahead, I'll catch up." He promised.

Leo nodded and before Raphael knew it, both of his brothers had disappeared on top of the roof. He let out a quick breath and cracked his neck. He knelt down and stayed in a crouched position for a moment before using all of his momentum to jump. He made it about a foot.

Raphael growled and tried jumping again but only got the same outcome. He groaned and resulted to the ladder that hung low. He jumped and was able to grab the fire-escape ladder and hauled himself up.

Raph quickly made his trek up the escape and jumped onto the building where he found his two brothers calmly waiting for him. "I told you to go ahead."

"And I told you that you weren't supposed to go topside, so I guess we're all just breaking rules tonight." Leonardo responded with a raise of his eye ridge. He got off of the wall he had been leaning on and walked over to the younger turtle. "This could go a lot faster if you just let me carry you."

Raph twitched slightly. He was not a baby. He didn't have to be carried, or worried about! He didn't have to be babied anymore! "No! I'm fine!" He shot as he walked to the other side of the roof. He paused at the edge and a small blush appeared on his forest green skin. "Uh, Leo? Which way do we go?"

"Straight." Leonardo replied bluntly.

Straight was another rooftop, but before that was about a 20 foot drop to the ground. "And before that?" Raph asked with an agitated tone.

Leo didn't say anything. Only jerking his head was enough for Donatello to know his command. The purple-clad turtle jumped to the other buildings roof with ease. He spun on his heels and gave Raph a bragging toothy grin. Raphael could only gawk.

"H-how…?" Was all he could manage before Leo cut him off.

"Your turn." Leo said as he stood behind his younger brother and waited patiently. Raphael looked between the other roof, Donatello, the ground, Leonardo, and then back to the roof. He creased his eye ridges in determination. If Donnie could do it, then he could do it… right?

Raph looked at Leo one last time. Leo had his arms crossed over his plastron as he waited, thinking that Raphael would just chicken out and finally except help. Leo under estimated Raph's stubborn attitude though.

The young turtle twisted his feet into the cement and crouched slightly before taking the two steps for the leap of faith.

Two strong hands quickly wrapped around his torso and pulled him close. "Leo! I was gonna make it!"

"Bonehead." Leo grumbled as he shifted Raph onto his back. Raphael began to complain and protest but was quickly silenced with a gasp when Leonardo suddenly jumped to the other building. Raphael held on for dear life; burring his face into the crook of Leo's neck as he closed his eyes tight. The older turtle ran and jumped the next roof after landing gracefully the first.

Raph finally forced his eyes open as he clung to the brim of the oldest turtles shell. The city seemed to zoom past him as Leo sped quietly across the buildings. About five minutes later they jumped down into an ally. Leo gently slid Raphael off of his shell. Raph rubbed the grogginess out of his eyes before looking up at his brother.

"I can't believe you didn't even bother bringing a coat." Leo grumbled as he moved over to lift the manhole cover off of the ground.

"It's not cold." Raph said.

Leo rolled his eyes and then climbed down through the hole. Donnie waited until Raph had vanished before climbing down himself and closing the lid.

Raph quickly yanked his hand out of Leo's as the approached the lair. He ran ahead and was suddenly greeted by a tight embrace. "Scare me to death like that again and I'll never let go!" April threatened as she brought Raph arms-length away.

"Sorry." Raph grumbled; he squirmed out of her grasp and went over to the couch; this time getting met with a noggie. "Aw! Look who it is! Raphie! Haven't seen you in forever man!" Casey laughed as Raph tried and failed to get away from the bulky man.

"Let go you meat bag!" Raph swung a fist blindly.

Casey roughly rubbed at the top of Raph's head. "Bone head."

"Low life!" Raph grunted.

"Nimrod!"

"Scatterbrain!"

"Light weight!"

"Immigrant!"

Casey paused and stared at the younger turtle as he continued to struggle. Raph realized the vigilante's sudden lack of harshness and looked up at him. Casey tried to hold back his laughter. "What did you call me?"

Raph glared at him. "What?!"

"Do you even know what immigrant means?" Casey asked as he smirked down at the young terrapin.

Raph blinked and then looked down at his feet. "It… sounds stupid."

Casey barked out in laughter; releasing his hold on Raphael. Raph took this opportunity to run away. He spun on heels and glared at the man. "You wanna go-"

"Raphael."

Raph flinched and looked over his shoulder at the giant rat that was walking towards him. "Hey Splinta."

Splinter raised an eyebrow. "Kneel." He commanded. Casey had stopped his laughing and now sat calmly next to Michelangelo; both of them wearing intrigued looks. Raphael quickly fell down onto his knees in front of his father. "I should punish you for sneaking to the surface. Want to try and explain or would you like for me to continue?"

"Sensei I…" Raph looked guiltily up at his father. "I just don't get it."

"Oh? What do you not understand?" Splinter asked.

Raph twiddled with his thumbs. He looked towards to the ground; biting his lip. He looked up. "Why does everyone else get to go topside and I can't?!" He finally asked.

Splinter raised both his eyebrows. He stroked his beard and smiled gently. "You are much too young." He said bluntly.

"I'm no baby! I can handle myself just fine up there!" His voice rose as he searched his father for answers.

"Your brothers are allowed because they are very skilled ninja, they can stick to the shadows and defend themselves if needed." He explained.

"I'm a ninja too! And I can fight easily! I bet-"

"No Raphael!" Splinter snapped. Raph flinched; he bowed his head as he continued to look up at Splinter with pleading eyes. Splinter stared at him for a moment before sighing and leaning forward on his stick. "I am grounding you until my further say."

"H-hai Sensei…" He mumbled; defeated.

"Now bed. With all of you. It's been a long day."

Raphael slowly rose before turning and sulking to his room. He shut his door; a thoughtful glare plastered on his face. He pressed his forehead against the door; shutting his eyes tight. He slide down to his knees, his head still on the door, as the tears slide slowly down his face. He growled at himself as he shoulders began to shake.

'It's just not fair…'

Leo pulled his legs close to his chest as he tried to wrap himself tighter into the blanket. The lair was freezing and he couldn't sleep as the goose-bumps littered his skin and constant shivers raked his body. He wanted to grab another blanket, but didn't want to leave the only heat he had achieved in conserving. He had checked on all of his brothers two hours ago to make sure they were all safe in bed, and ever since then he hadn't been able to sleep at all. He squeezed his eyes shut as he tried to force sleep; he had training in the morning, he was going to want all the energy he could muster.

The silence was broken when Leonardo's door creaked open. Leo squinted his eyes open as he peered into that dark. The silhouette of a small figure was standing in his door frame; fidgeting and rubbing its arm, it just stood there.

Leo blinked his eyes a couple of times and finally forced himself to leave his only warmth as he sat up. "Raph?" The figure visibly flinched. Leo blinked again. "Raphie? What're you doing?"

"I…" He heard Raph sniff and shift his weight slightly.

"Raphael… what's wrong?" Leo said as he swung his legs over the side of the bed and walked over to his shivering brother. He knelt down next to the red-banded turtle and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"I-I…" Raph sniffed again and then scrubbed at his face. A couple of tears trailed down his cheeks. "I-I'm cold…"

Leo rubbed his hand up and down Raph's arm in a calming manner as he gave a comforting smile through the pitch black room. "Are you sure that's all?" Leo asked.

Raph nodded quickly.

"Alright." Leo said as he stood up and grabbed a blanket. He wrapped it around Raph's shaking form and then scooped him up. He cradled him in his arms and brought him close to his chest. "Are you warm now?" he asked; he looked down at the forest green face and saw the tears that glistened on the young face. "Hey, what's wrong?" Leo asked as he knelt back down and sat Raph on his lap.

Raph choked back a sob as he stared at the ground in front of him. He slowly shook his head before leaning heavily on Leonardo's plastron. He squeezed his eyes shut and gripped his fists tightly as he cried on Leo.

Leo rubbed circles on Raph's shell. "Shhh, you're ok. You're fine." He brought the crying turtle closer to him as he cried; hugging him tightly to himself. He waited patiently until Raph had finally calmed down. Raphael sniffed a couple times as he sat up and harshly wiped the tears off his face; never meeting eye contact with Leo. "Raph," Leo sighed; he put his hand under the younger turtles chin and tilted his head up so their eyes met. "This wasn't from the cold. What's wrong?"

Raph's glare turned to a pained expression. He gulped before taking in a shuddered breath. "I left… but no one came for me. I… I thought it was because everyone finally realized I w-was strong and could handle myself. Bu-ut when I wanted to come home… I got lost." A couple of tears fell down his face. "It took me days until I finally found the lair again. I was hungry and dirty and… and…" Raph burst into tears as he hugged Leo again. "I never want to go topside again! You a-all ha-ated me!" He gasped. "He-e said I-I could ne-ever come h-home again! T-then… Then…" Raph tried to control his sobbing as Leo stroked his head.

"Shhh… it's ok. What happened next?" Leo coaxed; understanding it was a nightmare.

"I-I… I couldn't protect you guys! I… The… H-he killed every-yone!" Raph started to hyperventilate. He pushed off of Leo and looked him in the eyes. "Y-you hate me too… huh?"

"No! No, I don't hate you! Raph it was just a dream! We would never hate you." He brought Raph back into the hug. And stroked his shell as the young turtle cried. "Why would you think I hated you?"

"Y-You said s-so!" Raph cried. "You a-all did!"

Leo hugged Raph. "That wasn't me."

Raphael sniffed. "W-what?"

"It wasn't me. I would never, EVER say such an awful thing!" Leo whispered. "I love you, and if you disappeared I would search for you until my last breath."

Raph looked up at him; his eyes wide, yet tiered. "Really?"

"Really." Leo smiled gently. He stood up, Raphael cradled in his arms, and walked over to his bed. "Can you sleep in here with me tonight?" Leo asked. "It's awfully cold."

Raph sniffed and then nodded. "B-ut only because you asked." He said as Leo laid him down and then crawled onto the bed himself; wrapping them both tightly into the blanket. He wrapped his arms protectively around the shivering turtle and allowed his heat to be shared with his brother. He nuzzled Raph's face with his own and then waited until he heard the soft and steady breathing of his little brother before falling asleep himself.

Ok,

you see that button down there? The one that says "Review"?

I want you to take your mouse (Or your finger or whatever your using to scroll on fanfiction) and click that button!

Once you've clicked, now here's the crazy thing, REVIEW!

:D

That would be great!

Thanks guys!

Hope you liked it!

-Tori