Hey guys, so this chapter is really long, but I didn't want to split it apart, cause it really needs to flow. So, I apologize in advance.
In this chapter the brothers realize how difficult it is to be a leader. Enjoy and please Review!
Ch. 19-Second to None
Leonardo lay on his bed staring up at the ceiling. Now that the Krang invasion had been taken care of, things were pretty calm. But their recent encounter with the Mighty Mutanimals had gotten him thinking.
Slash had Leatherhead as his second-in-command, in case anything happened to him.
It was a good idea, Leonardo had to admit. Especially considering the time he'd been out for three months, it seemed as though having a second-in-command would not only help ease his responsibility as a leader, but prepare his brothers in case anything should happen to him.
Yes, it was a good idea. With a nod of finality, Leonardo rose and headed for the dojo. After telling Master Splinter his thoughts, he waited for his master's reaction.
Splinter nodded in affirmative. "I see what you are suggesting, my son. I think it is a very good idea indeed."
"But Sensei, who should I choose?"
"That is up to you, my son. You are the leader." The rat answered evenly, though if it were up to him…he knew who he'd choose.
Leonardo nodded. "But how will I know I've made the right decision?"
Master Splinter smiled. "The same way I did, my son. You will know."
Leo smiled back and bowed. Then he left the dojo to seek out his brothers.
He found Donnie and Mikey in the lab. "Hey, I need to talk to you."
They both looked up at him, inquiringly. "What's up Leo?" Don asked.
"I just had a talk with Master Splinter."
The two younger turtles sat down, sensing this was an important conversation.
After a brief moment, Leonardo continued. "We've decided it would be a decent precaution for me to choose a second-in-command."
Donatello's eyes lit up. "Can I be the second-in-command?"
For a long while, Leo considered. Finally he spoke. "Alright Don. I hope you know what you're getting yourself in for." He said with a smile.
Don returned the smile. "I am. I can do this."
Michelangelo was frowning discreetly. For some reason the only thought that entered his head was: 'Raph's not gonna like this.'
"Mikey!" Leo yelled, and Mikey pulled out of his thoughts.
"Yeah?"
"You okay?" Leo asked.
"Yeah, yeah I'm fine." Mikey answered with a fake smile. For some reason that one thought repeated like a mantra in his head.
Raph's not gonna like this.
"Leonardo, why did you choose Donatello?" Splinter asked, his dark brown eyes gazing inquiringly at his eldest son.
"He asked Sensei." Leo replied, as though it should have been obvious.
Master Splinter frowned. "I am surprised that Raphael did not object."
"Oh, well he wasn't there. He was out with Casey." Leonardo stated matter-of-factly.
Sensei looked stunned for a moment. Then his face hardened. His brown eyes narrowed. "Leonardo, that was most unwise."
Dark blue eyes blinked slowly at him. "Why Sensei?"
"If you are going to offer such a position to your brothers, you should have ensured that each of them had an equal chance. Now you have no way of knowing whether or not you have made the right decision."
"Oh, come on, Sensei," Leo scoffed with a smile, "Raph?"
Sensei raised an eyebrow with a serious stare.
"You have got to be joking!" Leo insisted, still chuckling.
The piercing brown gaze remained level and quite serious. "Raphael has all the essential qualities of a fine leader, my son."
That made Leo's laughter die down. His mouth bent into a frown. "Do you think I made the right decision?"
Splinter sighed. "Only time will tell, my son. Only time will tell."
Raphael returned home late that night. As soon as he got to the main room after unloading his gear he found all three of his brothers facing him. The hothead raised a questioning eye-ridge.
Mikey wouldn't make eye contact with him. That meant that something was wrong.
"What's up guys?" Raph asked.
"Raph, today Master Splinter and I decided that it would be a good idea for me to have a second-in-command."
That got the hothead interested. "So what? Master Splinter's gonna be picking one of us or something?"
"No, I get to choose."
Raph's bright green eyes glanced at him inquisitively, but then he nodded. That made sense. "So when are you going to choose?"
Leonardo shifted nervously. "I've already chosen. Donatello's second-in-command."
There was a pause. Everything went silent.
"D-Don's what?" Raph stated, his voice sounding more confused than angry.
Donatello fancied that he could have imagined it, but if he wasn't mistaken, there was the slightest tinge of…hurt in Raphael's eyes.
Raph stared at Leonardo uncomprehendingly. "You-you-you chose without me?"
The brainiac definitely wasn't mistaken. Raph was hurt. The hurt had vanished from his eyes, but it was now being conveyed through his voice.
Leo was about to retort angrily, but his gaze had softened. Apparently Donatello wasn't the only one who had noticed. "Raph I—" he began, unable to meet Raph's gaze.
Green eyes flashed angrily as he cut his older brother off. "How could you? How could you just go behind my back?" Before Leo could say anything, Raphael threw up his hands. "I can't believe," his voice cracked, and he started again, "I can't believe that you would do that. A leader is supposed to take his teammates under consideration at all times. You just went behind my back! I-I-I…" Raph's brother's exchanged glances. Raph only stuttered when he was really, really, really upset. He obviously wasn't taking this well. Raphael threw his arms up again, running one hand over his head. His hands were shaking with emotion. "I-I don't know what else to say!" He yelled, turning as though to leave the room. A thought halted him in his tracks. The hotheaded turtle wheeled around and poked Leo in the chest. "I thought you had more honor than that, Leo. I thought you were a great leader. But this…this was just low." As Raph began to leave the room Leonardo spoke.
Leo's voice was level. "You're upset because you think it should have been you." It was a statement, not a question.
Raph froze. He made no move to turn around, but he bent back in his older brother's direction. "No." He paused. "I'm upset because you completely excluded me. You treat me as though my opinion isn't worth anything." Then he added, as though it were an afterthought, "Even if it isn't, it's you job as a leader to take everyone's opinion into account. You made a decision that concerned the whole team without me, Leo! And you obviously don't even regret it. Therefore it only goes to follow that you don't even consider me a part of this team." There was silence as Leonardo fully realized what his brother was saying. His dark blue eyes widened. Raphael went on, "If you don't want me involved in your decisions Leonardo, just say so. And for goodness sake if I'm more trouble than I'm worth on this team…I expect you to let me know. Not to go scheming behind my back!" His eyes gleamed.
"Raph…" The eldest began softly, putting a hand on Raphael's shoulder.
Raph jerked away with an angry hiss. "Get your hands off me! You're no brother of mine!" He stormed off down the hall, the door to his room slamming behind him.
Leonardo stared after him, frozen in a state of shock.
Splinter appeared behind them.
Leo turned to the rat mutant, "Sensei, can't you talk some sense into him?"
Master Splinter glared. "On the contrary Leonardo. Raphael is in the right. I suggest you apologize and hope that your brother will forgive you."
"Oh, come on Sensei, Raph's being a big baby. He's just upset because he didn't get what he wanted!"
"That is not true, my child. I know for a fact that Raphael does not want anything to do with the leadership of this team."
"Then what's he so upset about?!" Leo asked exasperatedly.
The old rat crossed his arms. "I think Raphael expressed it very well, Leonardo. By disregarding him you denounced his role in this family. That, my child, will not be easily forgiven or forgotten. It will take you quite some time to earn back Raphael's trust in you."
By this point, Leonardo was concerned. "Do you think I'll be able to, Sensei?"
Splinter met Leonardo's gaze. "I do not know my son. I really do not know."
Several weeks later, the four turtles were out on patrol. Raphael was still bitter, but at least he was allowing Leonardo to do his thing as the leader. In fact, over the past few weeks Leo had tried doing everything in his power to get Raphael to forgive him. Unfortunately none of it was doing any good.
But what disturbed the leader the most was that Raphael was uncharacteristically silent. No objections, no teasing, nothing. Not even so much as a growl.
It bothered the 'fearless leader' to no end. He was so used to Raph speaking out against anything that made him uncomfortable. In a way, he felt as though he'd lost a pivotal member of his team. He'd lost the one he could always count on to point out the flaws in every plan, the one who would contradict his thinking, the one that would challenge him. Without that, he felt like his plans were single-minded, and flawed.
But at the same time, he'd gained an insightful and valuable confidant in Donatello.
Still…he missed Raphael.
The ninja leader was shocked out of his thoughts as they were ambushed by Foot bots. The turtles drew their weapons and began to fight.
There were too many of them.
"Split up!" Leo ordered.
The others nodded.
The eldest turtle sprung down a back-alley and vanished with fifteen Foot-bots at his heels. Raphael, Donatello and Michelangelo each took one of three alleys that were headed in the opposite direction.
Raph sprinted down the alley, Foot bots hot on his heels. He reached a dead-end and cursed. He turned to face the Foot bots with his sais drawn. The emerald green turtle pressed a foot against the wall behind him, getting ready to leap into the fray. At that moment it started to rain.
Raph's eyes were shadowed and he smirked. While the Foot Bots were distracted by the rain, the turtle pushed off the wall and propelled himself towards them. Within minutes the robots were no more than a sparking heap of parts.
The hotheaded turtle fell back into the shadows. He leaped up a fire escape on one side of the alley, over the wall, and vanished, without a trace.
It didn't take him long to find Donatello and Michelangelo. The two younger turtles were surrounded by Foot Bots on all sides. Strangely enough, both the Foot Bots and the turtles had yet to make a move. Raph jumped down and joined his brothers. They looked surprised but seemed happy to see him. All three of them waited for the Foot Bots to make the first move, their weapons drawn.
The three turtles stood with their backs to each other, constantly turning to make sure that no movement escaped their notice.
Raph turned back towards Donatello. "What's the plan Donnie?" He growled.
"How should I know?" Don snapped, annoyed.
"You're the second-in-command, genius." Raph pointed out.
Donnie paled. Raph was right. He unknowingly began to panic.
Fishface, Rahzar, and Tigerclaw dropped down from the rooftops above.
Raphael cursed. "Donnie, what's the plan?" He yelled insistently.
Don shook his head. Too much. It was all too much.
"What's the Plan?!"
"I don't know! I don't know." Don stated, completely overwhelmed.
Raphael's green eyes caught his immediate younger brother's expression and his gaze hardened. "Alright. New plan. Mikey, Donnie, you two stall the Big Three. Whatever you do, don't get hurt, just goad and dodge. I'll watch your backs and take out the Foot bots. Then I'll join you."
Donatello regarded his older brother slowly, as though stunned.
"Do it now!" Raph cried insistently as he charged the Foot Bots.
"Come on D." Michelangelo stated, pulling Don after him. "Yo Tigerclaw!" Mikey started making humiliating faces at the tiger.
Tigerclaw growled and leaped at the youngest turtle. Mikey dodged at the very last second.
Donnie pushed his doubts aside and readied his Bo. "What's the matter Rahzar, you too chicken to fight?"
Rahzar attacked and Don was on the move. Foot Bots came up behind him but a blur of green and red took them out before they could even try and strike him. Don nodded thanks to his brother and turned back to his task of avoiding Rahzar's powerful blows. Then something else caught his eye.
Fishface was about to drop down on Raphael. The hothead currently had his hands full fighting Foot bots. Don's eyes narrowed.
"Die Turtle!" Xever yelled as he descended from his current hiding place in the shadows of the fire escape.
"Oh no you don't!" Donatello yelled, jumping away from Rahzar and leaping to where Raph was. He used his bo to deflect Fishface's attack. Raph turned when he saw Don jumping towards him. His eyes widened as he realized his brother had saved him from being skewered by Fishface. Raphael returned to the battle at hand and finished off the last few Foot before helping Mikey, who, by this point, had been facing both Rahzar and Tigerclaw by himself. The three turtles drew closer together, pulling away from their adversaries. Fishface, Rahzar and Tigerclaw began to approach with grins on their faces. The turtles were exhausted. Don shouted to Raph. "I don't think we can take much more of this Raph!"
"We don't have to!" The red-masked brother replied. They glanced at him. He sent them hand-signals.
The two younger turtles nodded. Their eyes turned white with determination.
Fishface, Rahzar and Tigerclaw stood at the ready.
The three turtles charged with a loud battle cry. Then at the last second, Raphael threw down a smoke bomb.
Shredder's mutated henchmen coughed, as their eyes and mouths were filled with chemicals.
When the smoke cleared, the turtles were gone.
On the rooftops Raphael ran ahead, scouting for signs of Leonardo. Don and Mikey were two roofs behind him, but he was still keeping an eye on them.
"Raph!" Came a familiar voice.
Raphael, who wasn't expecting it, jumped.
Leo held up his hands, "Whoa, whoa, whoa, it's just me!"
"Goodness sakes, Leo!" Raph growled in annoyance.
Leonardo's observant eyes landed on Raph's scratched and dirt-streaked shell. "You okay?"
"Yeah, we just had a little run in with Fishface, Rahzar and Tigerclaw that's all." Raph stated, sarcastically.
Dark blue eyes widened. "Are you alright? What about Don and Mikey?"
Raph huffed, "We're all fine. It was close though."
Leo sighed with relief. "I'm glad Don got you out of there alright."
The hothead stiffened.
"He did get you out of there alright?" Leo questioned, not fully understanding Raph's body language.
There was a short silence before Raphael decided, "Yeah, we're fine. A little worse for wear. And Don's planning skills could use a little work, but we made it out alive. That's what counts."
At that moment, Donatello and Michelangelo landed on the roof beside them. Before they could even greet the older turtle, Leo spoke.
"Donnie. Great job little brother." Leo said, his eyes beaming with pride.
Donatello was speechless. But he managed to stutter out a rather incoherent, "What?"
"Raphael told me all about what happened. He says if it weren't for you, the three of you might never have made it out of there alive. I'm so proud of you Don."
Donatello cast a questioning gaze to Raph, but the hothead just looked away. "L-Leo..."
"Come on guys, let's get home." The leader stated, not waiting for an argument.
Strangely enough, however, Raphael said nothing. That made Leonardo raise an eye-ridge, but he let it go. Raph was often unpredictable.
When they got home Leonardo went straight to the dojo to report to Master Splinter.
Donnie and Mikey immediately turned to Raphael.
"Why did you tell him I was the one who...?" Don began
Raph held up a hand. "You're second in command Don, not me."
"But you were the one who..." Don tried to argue, but Raph cut him off.
"What they don't know won't hurt them." Raphael stated softly.
'But it could hurt us...' Don thought to himself.
"Dude you saved us, Leo and Sensei need to know." Mikey stated.
Raph's green eyes stared sternly at them. "No."
Before anything more could be said, Leo and Sensei emerged from the dojo.
Raph noted the small smile on his father's face.
"Well done Donatello. Leonardo tells me you not only led the team, but also saved your brothers' lives. I am incredibly proud of you, my son." Splinter's words made Raph's gut clench.
Donnie stiffened. There was a subtle frown on his face that made Sensei's smile dim slightly.
Something was not as the old rat had been told. Even Michelangelo appeared to be anxious. Then Splinter glanced over at his second son. He had to fight the impulse to raise an eyebrow with intrigue.
That look of concentration rarely appeared on Raph's face. He looked almost...fatigued. Sensei's eyes narrowed. Something was going on behind his back. And behind Leonardo's as well.
The eldest turtle, however, did not seem to notice Don's odd stare, and was still beaming with pride.
"Um...well, yes Sensei. I did my best." Donatello stated evenly.
Then Raph jumped in, "Yeah, he did good."
Mikey was reluctant. He didn't want to lie. But if that's the way Raph wanted it..."Totally. Donnie did amazing! I'll cruise with you anytime bro." As long as Raph's around...Mikey thought to himself.
"Alright guys, it's been a long day. I'm gonna get to bed." The hothead stated.
They all stared. Splinter's eyes narrowed. There was definitely something amiss.
"It's nine-thirty!" Leo said, flabbergasted.
Raph shrugged. "I'm really tired, I guess."
Leonardo frowned. I hope Raph isn't still upset that I chose Donnie over him...
"Congrats Don. I'm real happy for you." Raph said plainly.
Splinter watched his second son leave with calculating glances. There was nothing wrong that he could see, yet every single one of his instincts was telling him that something was, indeed, very wrong. "Are you feeling well, my son?"
Raph looked a little surprised by the question.
Leo's eyes narrowed. Was Raph hiding an injury? It wouldn't be the first time.
Raph sighed, "I'm fine Sensei. I'm just so exhausted."
Splinter knew that wasn't the entire truth, but he decided to let Raph go for now.
"Alright, my child. Rest well."
Raphael smiled. "I will Father."
"Just a minute Raph."
The hothead turned back towards his older brother with annoyance. "What is it Leo?"
"I was gonna have Don lead patrol tomorrow night. That okay with you?"
Raph raised an eye-ridge. "Sure. Why wouldn't it be?"
"Just wanted to make sure." Leo said.
Don was mortified.
Donatello went to Raph's room later that night. The hothead lay on his carapace on the bed, his eyes staring blankly at the ceiling. When Don entered, Raph sent him a questioning glance.
"Raphael, please tell them the truth. If we go out on that run tomorrow I'll be in charge. What if something goes wrong?"
"Trust your instincts, Don." Raph answered reassuringly, sitting up and motioning Donnie to join him.
Donatello took a seat on the bed and frowned. "But what happens if I stall again? What if my instincts don't react? That's exactly what I did last time and I nearly got you killed!" He yelled.
Raph crossed his arms. "Don, you're Leo's second. You've got to take control. Be assertive. You have to carry the burden."
Donnie put his head in his hands. "I can't, Raph. I'm not strong enough." He whispered forlornly.
"That's what I'm here for." Raph whispered, staring deep into his younger brother's eyes. "I'll be your support. I'm always here to back you up."
The brainiac's eyes watered. "You should have been second."
Raphael smirked smugly. "Ey, I'm Raphael, Donnie. I'm second to none."
Donatello smiled, wiping the tears away from his eyes. "You sure aren't." He whispered. "You're a great brother."
Raph waved a hand as though dismissing the notion. Donatello's hand shot out and grabbed it. His dark brown eyes were stern. "Yes you are."
"Whatever you say Don." Raph stated evenly.
So Raph may not have believed it, but at least he knew not to contest the fact.
The next night everything was going great. The four turtles were tracking down clues as to the whereabouts of the Foot's latest base of operations. So far, Don's instincts had been serving them well. They were getting closer and closer to a real breakthrough.
Raphael smiled as they ran rapidly across the rooftops. He steered over to Donnie's side and whispered in his younger brother's ear. "Told you you'd do great, Donnie."
Don met Raph with an appreciative smile.
When they finally located the Foot base, the brothers, including Leo, turned to Donnie. They were standing on the building across, watching Foot soldiers going in and out.
"Well, little brother? What do we do next?" Leo asked, indulgently.
Don frowned. He glanced at the building, taking into account the size and design, forming various possible floor-plans in his head.
"We go in." the purple-masked turtle stated, taking a moment to let a plan form in his head. He nodded once he'd made up his mind. "That window there," he pointed to a window across from them, "has a large ledge and plenty of access where we can get in without being seen. We'll enter through there."
The other turtles, including Raph, nodded. Leonardo cast as sideways glance at Raphael. I wish he'd be that cooperative when I'm leading the team. He thought.
The four turtles jumped over to the ledge. Leo, Mikey and Raph waited while Don set to picking the lock.
While the others were watching Don, Raph glanced around. Something wasn't right. Then a security camera caught his eye. It was pointed straight at them, but when he stared directly at it, it turned away. His bright green eyes narrowed. If the Foot knew they were here why wouldn't they be concerned?
Donatello had broken the lock and one by one, Raph's brothers jumped inside. They all assumed Raph had followed.
Just as they did so the answer hit the hothead like a brick to the face. One word surfaced and filled his mind:
Trap.
He turned back and realized his brothers had already gone in. He peered in just in time to see a cage drop down over his brothers. Aw shell.
Great, now I have to get them out of this mess. He turned to leave, planning to return for his brothers later, but the sound of a commotion made him turn back. The cage that contained his brothers was being loaded into the back of a truck. Shit.
Rahzar's voice boomed through the warehouse. "Take them to the Shredder." He told the Foot Robots. But as they were loading the cage something caught the mutant dog's eye. "Wait." Rahzar stomped heavily over and looked down at the turtles. They all glared back unabashedly. All three of them.
Rahzar's eyes narrowed. "Where is the fourth?" He bellowed.
The turtles exchanged surprised glances as they realized, belatedly, that Raphael was not with them.
Raphael wasted no time. He jumped towards the security camera and stabbed it with his sai.
"FIND HIM!" He heard Rahzar yell from inside the warehouse.
And that's my cue. Raph thought as he vanished in a cloud of smoke.
If I'm gonna get the guys out of this, I'm gonna need all the back-up I can get. But first I have to tell Sensei what happened.
I burst into the lair, a turtle on a mission. I headed straight for the dojo. Sensei wasn't there.
"SENSEI!" I yelled.
The Rat appeared at the dojo door within seconds.
"Raphael! What is wrong, my son?"
"It's—it's…" I struggled. After sprinting all the way back to the lair, plus the added stress of my brother's capture. I was hyperventilating. "Brothers."
Splinter's eyes narrowed. He put his hands on my shoulders, and urged me to calm my breathing. "Easy, my son. What about your brothers? What has happened?"
"Captured. They've been captured by Rahzar. He's taking them to Shredder."
Sensei's eyes widened as he stood rigid with shock.
"I was gonna warn them, but…it was too late. We have to save them."
"Do not worry. I will save them, Raphael."
"No." I stated. My breathing had returned to normal. Sensei stared at me, confusedly. "It was because of my failure to warn them that they're in this situation. I'm the one who has to get them out. But I can't do it alone. I have a plan, but I'm gonna need all the help I can get."
The question in Raphael's eyes was clear enough. Splinter nodded. "Yes, of course I will help you, my son."
I nodded. "Get anything you need. I'll call Casey and April and tell them to meet us there."
Splinter nodded.
Third Person POV
A few minutes later they were on the roofs of New York City. After a little while Master Splinter spoke up. "Raphael, this is not the way to Shredder's lair."
Raph glanced back at his father. "I know."
"Where are we going, my son?" the rat asked skeptically.
"Here." Raphael stated opening a sky-light panel of the warehouse they were currently standing on. He jumped inside. Splinter followed his second son, curiously.
The three mutants inside looked up at them. Splinter recognized Leatherhead, but the rest were strangers to him.
A soft, gravelly voice from behind them made Splinter turn around. "Raphael?"
Splinter took a small step back as a huge turtle mutant approached them. So. This was Slash. Splinter frowned. He never would have thought that Raphael's pet turtle could have transformed into something so large and foreboding.
Raphael moved to stand within arm's reach of Slash.
Splinter tensed. His sons had told him that Slash had changed, but he was a father. He had every right to be concerned when it came to the well-being of his sons.
"Slash." Raph greeted the larger turtle, his expression grave. He nodded greetings to the other mutants as well, before turning back to the black-masked turtle. "My brothers have been captured by Rahzar. I need your help to save them from the Shredder."
Slash's expression matched Raph's. "I'm with you, brother." He stated, putting a hand on Raph's shoulder. Mutagen green eyes turned to the other members of the Mighty Mutanimals. They all nodded. Slash grinned. "We all are."
Raphael smiled and nodded. "Come on. We have to meet our human friends and I'll explain the plan."
The Mighty Mutanimals and Master Splinter waited on the roof of a building near Shredder's lair. Slash threw a sideways glance at the old rat. Sensei met the large turtle's gaze with a hard stare.
"I'm surprised you're letting him go through with this plan."
Splinter looked down at the street below and said nothing.
"I never really understood." Slash spoke again, his voice a little quieter, with more emotion. "I mean—how do you just let them go? Knowing that they could get…"
Master Splinter sighed. "It is not easy."
Slash seemed to accept that and silence spread between them. Finally he spoke up again. "I don't like this plan. Raph could get hurt." The large turtle frowned.
The rat mutant regarded the spiky-backed turtle thoughtfully. "It is obvious that your friendship with Raphael is still quite a close one."
Slash smiled. "No one knows him better." Then he paused. "Well, except you."
"Indeed, Raphael has grown into a remarkable individual."
"Yes he has." Slash agreed. Then he frowned. "But in a way that worries me."
Splinter raised an eyebrow, prompting the leader of the Mighty Mutanimals to go on.
"I mean, he gets more and more mature, yet at the same time…I can't help but feel that he's also growing more and more closed off." That wasn't exactly what Slash meant so he let out a frustrated sigh and tried again. "What I'm trying to say is…well, Raphael is changing so much that all the things that make him, well, Raph are getting pushed to the side. It's like he's losing himself."
Splinter raised an intrigued eyebrow. That was an interesting thought. "I will remember that." He said. "You could be right."
While the Mighty Mutanimals and Master Splinter waited on the roof of the next building, Raphael was on the roof of Shredder's hideout.
April used the Shell Raiser's tech to hack into the building's security network and manipulate the cameras. She wasn't sure how long she would be able to do so before the Foot detected her tampering.
Casey was concealed in the nearby alley, waiting for the signal.
Raphael was already executing the first part of his plan. He broke in through the roof and proceeded to the dungeons. Unfortunately, just as he was arriving, he saw Rahzar, Tigerclaw, and Fishface taking his brothers away.
"Take them to Shredder." Tigerclaw ordered.
Raph drew back and spoke into the tiny transmitter on his shell. With the transmitter he could tell April what was going on. At the same time, she could hear most everything that was going on around him, and would know if he needed help. Raphael had hoped it would have been easier than this, but when it came to the Shredder, nothing was ever easy.
"April I'm heading to the main room. Tell the others to get ready."
April nodded. She was wearing a receiver in her ear so that she could hear what was going on. She left the Shell Raiser and snuck over to Casey's side. He looked at her.
"Raph says to get ready. He's going in."
Casey nodded. He glanced towards the figures on the nearby rooftop, hoping this crazy plan would work.
Raphael went out the way he'd come and went towards the main hall of Shredder's hideout. He loosened one of the glass panels and pulled it aside silently. The hothead's mind was focused on the task at hand, his eyes white with determination.
He watched as his brothers were brought before the Shredder. He growled as they were thrown down at Shredder's feet. Raph's bright green eyes glanced up and down each of his brothers. There were no serious injuries. That was good. Then voices from below made him look at Shredder.
"So, Bradford. You captured the turtles. But where is the fourth? The one they call Raphael?"
Rahzar's eyes narrowed and he bowed his head. "He got away Master."
Shredder growled. "You incompetent! Find him. I will not be satisfied until I have all of the turtles!"
"But Master, what about these three?"
"Leave them. I'll kill them myself. When you get the last turtle, bring him to me. I want to see the look on his face when he sees his brothers' lifeless bodies." Shredder said, readying his gauntlets.
As this was being spoken Raph whispered into the transmitter, "Give the signal now."
Down below, Leo, Donnie, and Mikey glared at Shredder.
"You won't get away with this!" Leo yelled.
Shredder chuckled, "Oh no? And who's going to stop me?"
"I am."
The turtles' heads shot up and they looked around. They knew that voice.
Raphael landed in the middle of the walkway. Raph glared and his jaw clenched.
Shredder's laugh echoed off the walls. "You and what army?" Shredder asked.
Raphael's hauntingly white eyes narrowed and he smirked. He reached up with his right hand. Depending on my timing, this will either be really awesome, or really lame. He thought. The red masked turtle snapped his fingers, and within seconds, the Mighty Mutanimals, April, Casey and Master Splinter came crashing through the glass above, landing at his side. Yep. That was pretty awesome. Raph thought with a smile.
Master Splinter and Shredder began to fight. Leatherhead went up against Rahzar, Slash took on Tigerclaw, April and Casey were fighting Fishface, and Pigeon Pete was trying to eat the Stockmanfly. Raph went to his brothers' side. He used the tip of his sai to pick the locks on their restraints. Once all four turtles were free, Raphael glanced around once more. The battle was still raging.
"Rockwell!" Raph called.
Dr. Rockwell appeared to be fiddling around with a box of some kind. He looked up at Raphael's call and nodded.
Raphael nodded back and turned to his brothers. "We're getting out of here. Now."
With a signal to Slash, the Mighty Mutanimals and the humans withdrew, leaving the way they'd come. Raph and his brothers followed.
Master Splinter was the last to emerge, Shredder close behind him.
Everyone continued running, but Raphael turned back and saw that Master Splinter was being detained by the Shredder.
"Sensei!" Raphael yelled, about to run over to his master's side.
The others stopped and glanced back as well.
"Raph?" Slash questioned.
The turtle stopped and turned back to the larger turtle. He handed Slash a couple of smoke-bombs. He looked at the others. "Go on. Get them out of here, they're in no condition to fight." He turned to Rockwell. "Time?"
"Three minutes, thirty two seconds and counting."
Raph nodded. He turned to Casey. "I need one of your bats."
The human raised an eyebrow, but complied.
"Keep going. We'll meet you back at your lair." Raph stated.
Slash frowned. "No, we can—"
Raphael cut him off. "GO NOW!"
Slash nodded.
Leonardo called him back, "Raphael, we're going with you."
Raph turned to his older brother. "No. This is my time, big brother. It's my plan, not yours. I'm responsible. Stand down Fearless Leader, and obey orders."
He glanced at Rockwell once more. "Two minutes." The monkey mutant stated.
"Shit." Raph broke out into a run, he stuffed the bat in his belt and drew his sai as he went. He yelled back at Slash as he left, "Get them out of here!"
Shredder had hit Splinter so many times the rat had begun to sway. Master Splinter collapsed on the rooftop. Shredder chuckled and released his gauntlet blades.
Just as he was about to slash the old rat into bits, another blade met his with a clang. Shredder looked down at the sai, then up to the face of its wielder.
"Why you…" The metal clad warrior growled.
River over stone…Raphael thought to himself as he channeled his anger and focus into one great weapon. Shredder attacked. Raph dodged every blow. Shredder pulled back and glared angrily. Raphael smirked. He held out one hand and beckoned: 'Bring it.'
Shredder yelled and charged again. Raphael dodged once more, this time lashing out against some of Shredder's more vulnerable areas. He discovered that the armor was thin on the sides and in the middle.
"Your skills have improved." Shredder stated.
Raphael said nothing.
"But you are still weak. Your father has instilled in you his weak-minded values." Shredder paused. "I can see that you have more power than you are aware. Your anger…it is so great. If you join me, I could teach you how to use it."
"I will never join you." Raph snarled, throwing himself at Shredder.
"You're loyalty is moving." Shredder stated as they were trading blows. "But your anger makes you different. You don't belong with weaklings like them. Someone like you would endanger them."
Raphael growled. His sais were thrown from his hands. Shredder's words broke his focus. The turtle drew his short dagger from his belt. He stabbed in Shredder's direction, but Oroku Saki grabbed his hand and seized the weapon. Before Raph could pull out of the hold, Shredder plunged the short blade into his side, between the two halves of his shell. He cried out. His hands found the bat tucked in his belt and used it to throw Shredder off of him, and off the building for that matter. Shredder clung to the ledge below.
The turtle moved away. He'd been stalling Shredder long enough. He had to leave now, while he still could. Raph tucked the bat back in his belt: Casey would never forgive him if he left it behind. The red-clad ninja grabbed his sai, then ran for his Sensei.
Shredder got back on the roof, and began to pursue the turtle when the sound of a tremendous explosion made him turn around. His lair had gone up in smoke.
Shredder's fists clenched with anger and he turned back around, only to find that both the turtle and the rat had gone.
Raph got back to Slash's lair about twenty minutes later. Master Splinter was leaning heavily on his second son, since he'd taken a hard beating in the fight.
As soon as Raphael and Splinter entered, the others crowded around them.
"Raph?" Leo asked.
Raphael looked at his older brother.
"What happened?"
Raphael smiled. "It all went according to plan bro, all according to plan." His voice was a little strained and he was breathing heavily, but everyone assumed it was just because he was worn out. "Casey." Raph said, holding out the bat.
Jones took it with a relieved sigh.
Leonardo pulled Raph aside. "Raph, just what was your plan?" Leo asked.
Raphael began to outline it in detail for his older brother, when the shock and adrenaline began to wear off. It wasn't until everything went fuzzy that he remembered his wound. "Shit."
Leo raised an eye ridge as Raph shook his head. The hothead leaned forward so much he nearly toppled. The blue-clad turtle reached out and steadied him. "Raph?"
"Donnie." Raph stated weakly. "Get Donnie."
Leo's hands gripped Raph tighter. "Why, what's wrong?"
"Wounded… Side… Shredder stabbed…short dagger." He said weakly.
Leo's eyes widened, then narrowed. "What?! Raph why the shell didn't you say something?"
"Completely forgot. So focused…helping Master Splinter." Raph struggled.
"DONNIE!" Leo yelled, barely catching his immediate younger brother as the hothead collapsed.
April, Casey, and the other turtles, including Slash, rushed over towards them.
Don knelt at Raph's side and turned to Leo. "What happened?"
"Shredder stabbed him in the side."
The brainiac was shocked, but he turned back to the most important task at hand: saving Raphael's life.
When I came to, I found myself staring at familiar ceiling of Donnie's lab. I knew every crack on that ceiling. I'd been in here often enough to know them all by heart.
I glanced around. As I turned to the side I came face-to-face with Master Splinter. "It is good to see you awake my son."
"Sensei." I stated. "Where are—"
"Your brothers have gone out to inform the Mighty Mutanimals of your status."
"And just what is my status? Am I gonna make it?" I asked dryly.
Master Splinter gave me an amused smile. "No…" He said it so flatly, that for a moment I stared at him. "…and yes."
I chuckled. He almost got me. Laughing hurt and I hissed.
My rat master's smile turned into a subtle frown. "Are you alright, Raphael?"
"Hai Sensei." I said. "Laughing just hurts a little, that's all."
Master Splinter smiled with understanding. "I am very proud of you, my son."
My heart swelled with happiness at his father's words, but he was a little confused. "For what Sensei?"
"You showed all the qualities of a true ninja, Raphael. You did not allow your anger to control your actions. Instead of being rash, you meticulously planned. More than that, my child, you were not overwhelmed when something went wrong. You showed care, and compassion. You sacrificed your wellbeing to come back and save me. You did well, my son."
I smiled tiredly. "I was just doing what I had to do, Sensei."
"There is one more thing, that I have not yet mentioned, my son."
My neon green eyes stared up at his father.
"Donatello and Michelangelo have told us the truth about the day you faced Rahzar, Fishface and Tigerclaw."
My eyes widened. "Father I—"
"Sh, my son. Let me speak. The fact that you believed in Donatello, even after he had failed, and the fact that you continued to support him, rather than boasting and telling all of us what really happened shows me that you have become a fine ninja, Raphael."
"Thank you Sensei."
"Sensei? We're back." Came Leo's voice from the main room.
"Leo." I said quietly.
Splinter glanced at me, then he spoke. "Come on in my sons. Your brother is eager to see you."
There was a rush of movement, and the other turtles appeared in the doorway.
"Raph." Leo stated, rushing over to the my bedside. Dark blue eyes narrowed and Leo frowned unhappily at me. "Don't you ever do that to me again! You scared the shit out of me!"
I smiled. Leo cussing was a rare feat. It meant that he was very serious. "I'm sorry big brother. Didn't mean to."
"I know you didn't." The eldest replied softly.
Donnie and Mikey approached together. I glanced at them, they looked guilty.
"Sensei already told me. You told them the truth."
The two youngest glanced at each other, then back at me. "We had to, we just couldn't…"
"I get it Don. You don't have to apologize."
Donatello took a seat on the end of the bed and whispered softly. "How are you feeling?"
I smiled again. "I'll be fine. Don't you worry."
"Raph."
I turned to face my older brother.
"I'm sorry I didn't consult you when we chose a second-in-command. I can see now that I made a great mistake. I misjudged you and for that, I'm sorry. I didn't think you had what it takes to be a leader. Turns out you'd make a damn good one."
"So would Donnie." I interrupted. "All he needs is a little time to learn. Someday he'll be even better than me." I said with a teasing smirk.
Leonardo frowned. "Donnie doesn't want to Raph. He thinks you would be a better choice. Mikey agrees. And so do I. I want you as my second. And don't you even begin to think that that means you have to agree with me all the time. Quite the opposite, in fact. Your criticism makes me a better leader."
I scoffed.
"It keeps me in check." Leo stated. Then, his dark blue eyes met my neon green ones. "Well, little brother? What do you say?"
I frowned. "Leo. There are two kinds of leaders. There are leaders like you, who lead because they want to, because it's what they're meant to do. Then there are people like me."
Leonardo raised an eye-ridge.
I went on. "I'm not a born leader, big brother. I don't like having to be a leader, but I do it because I have to. I do it because I am trying to protect others, particularly the members of my team. If you want me as your second in command, I'll do it. But understand that I'll be doing it to protect this family. Not because I want to, but because I have to."
Leo frowned, but he nodded. "I understand, Raph. Are you sure?"
"Sure as I can be. All I ask, Leonardo, is that you're patient with me."
Leo nodded again, his eyes filled with seriousness. "I'll do my best, little brother."
I smiled. "Alright. If that's all you wanted, get out. I wanna sleep."
Leo laughed. "Alright, Raph, alright."
Third Person POV
Everyone filed out the room. Leo was the last one out. The leader turned back to Raph, who was now sound asleep with a smile on his face. "Sweet dreams, little brother."
So how was it? I know it's really long. Sorry about that, but I really wanted to keep it all one chapter. It's a really fast chapter too with all the stuff that happens. Somehow, I've always felt that Raph learned a lot more about leadership from the Snakeweed incident than it seemed, and I believe he would be a good leader, especially now that he knows what it takes.
What did you think?