Chapter 13: A Story to be Told

Wind let out a breath as he leaned against the strong support of the wooden beam. He was grateful that the underground home of his brothers had rafters. The couch was comfortable and all, but he wasn't all that used to spending so much time on the ground.

Up in the security of the loft, Wind closed his eyes letting the sounds and feel of the lair wash over him. He could hear Mikey in the kitchen, the youngest humming an unknown tune as he cleaned up dinner. He'd said something about making cookies earlier and from the hum of some electronic mixing device Wind assumed that was the case. Donnie had retreated behind some metal doors earlier into what Wind assumed was the lab. Most likely that was where Leo and his brothers were. Wind hadn't checked in on his friend yet, not really prepared to face his counterpart's brothers; just getting to know his own, himself. Shaking those thoughts away Wind set his senses on locating Raph, it was really the first time today the red clad turtle wasn't at his side. A smile spread across Wind's face as he realized that he could sense the other turtle's auras. Even after so little time he was already getting in tune with them. Raph was in one of the rooms upstairs. Not the room Wind had woken up in earlier. That he'd learned had been Donnie's room.

Content for the moment of solitude, Wind leaned back against the solid beam letting his mind soak everything in.

Since meeting Leo everything had been a whirlwind. He'd been emotionally uneasy since the beginning of the journey over what meeting these other turtles would be like. He had let his mind drift over a hundred potential possibilities. None of which resembled what today had looked like.

He had woken up with Raph sleeping at his bedside. Mikey had brought him soup. Donnie had evidently treated his injuries and continued to check up on him. All of this was good signs and pointed toward the hope of allegiance, possible friendship. But then it continued. The brothers had been ever present. Almost clingy. The strong emotions that radiated off of them in waves..it was almost as overwhelming as the torrent of emotions that had Wind spinning.

Tears welled up in Wind's eyes. They treated him like family. Mikey clung to his side like a puppy. The bubbly lighthearted turtle chatted amiably and constantly and seemed to clammer for his attention; just like a baby brother would. Donnie hovered over him, constantly worrying about his health. He was as hesitant as Wind was but also eager. He proudly showed off his inventions, giving Wind a brief tour of the lair. Wind had wanted to cry at how cared for he felt.

Then there was Raph. The red clad turtle was a lot like him, words were not his form of communication. He stayed by his side not as a guard with a stranger but as a protector by a wounded comrade. Wind couldn't deny the protectiveness he felt for these turtles ever since he learned about them; something that had compelled him to a stronger degree he thought it would, in his fight with the Shredder. This protectiveness he felt for these three turtles he saw reflected back in Raph's eyes.

He couldn't help but feel akin to the Red clad turtle.

It was more than he had ever hoped.

It was honestly a little surreal.

So when he was given a moment unaccompanied, instincts drove him into the comfortable familiarity of the rafters. It gave him a moment to think and get his bearings. So Wind let himself sit for a few moments, letting the events of the day wash over him like a warm breeze. Was it only a day? In a way it felt like a lifetime.

His sore muscles protesting the warrior let himself drop to the floor. As much as he should probably take a moment to digest everything, part of him wasn't ready to sit and sift through this all yet. Instead he let his feet drag him toward the intricate sliding doors near the back of the room. He felt a little like an intruder as he slid open the doors, even though the brothers had given him permission to explore when Donnie had cleared him from the bedroom. They hadn't given him any boundaries of where not to go, still Wind feared stepping on any toes. He didn't want to give them any excuse to send him away. Still he felt drawn to the room.

Wind felt a deep respect as he took in the vast room. The floor was covered in old colorful rugs. A warm smell filled the room and Wind felt a sense of peace in the open space. In the far corner were more walls, made from the same material as the doors, a room perhaps. Wind let his eyes take in the tapestries on the walls and the shelf of pictures as his gaze wandered the room Wind felt his gaze halt as it fell on the tree in the middle of the room. A smile spreading across his face Wind made his way toward the tree.

Hesitantly Wind let his hand rest on the sturdy bark, his mind drifting outwards. It was weak and unfocused without the amplifiers but moments later his call was answered with a response. Joy lept in Wind's chest.

Who are you child? The tree asked in her wise old voice which was calm and curious. Wind could sense the tree's confusion, as her memory tried to place him as one of the three brothers.

My name is Wind. He responded. He had spoken with many trees in such a manner and after so many years found this form of communication easier than that of tongue. The trees were connected by their roots and their communication stretched beyond that of words, a deep connection of thought.

Settling himself to lean against the trunk Wind let his mind focus as he settled himself down for a nice long chat.

Wind was pulled out of his conversation by the feeling of another presence. His eyes had drifted shut during Kashikoi Ki's story about the time Mikey evidently used her branches as a means to hide as he pelted Raph and Donnie with water balloons filled with paint. It was a quite humorous story and Wind was curious how many such stories the old tree had, when he sensed that he was no longer alone.

Opening his eyes, Wind sent a rushed goodbye to his new friend as Wind turned to face the newcomer. Wind expected to see one of the three brothers and was shocked to find not a turtle but a tall rat dressed in a red robe before him.

"I'm sorry" Wind was quick to apologize, pulling himself onto his feet. "I meant no disrespect in coming in here." Wind bowed politely. He knew a little about proper dojo etiquette. He had spent a short time in Japan, the Ortaninas prone to traveling. He had been fascinated with the culture and had thus learned as much as time allowed.

Suddenly feeling foolish for wandering in here without permission, Wind wondered if he should just simply leave or try and explain himself.

The old rat stood, leaning heavily on his cane, his eyes wide and wrought with emotion.

Not knowing what else to say Wind turned to return back to the pit when a sudden hand on his arm stopped his retreat.

Wind turned to face the tall rat. Truly looking at him for the first time. The elderly rat's expression was creased in pain and his deep eyes were wrought with emotion, carrying a heavy burden.

"No need to apologize…my son" . The voice was kind and wise but the words carried much emotion.

Wind's eyes widened. Was this..his father? How?! He wasn't a turtle!

"Please, sit" the rat gestured for Wind to sit. "I have much to explain."

Hesitantly, Wind sank to his knees across from the elderly rat; curious at the story he had to tell.

"Wow" Wind's eyes were wide as he heard Splinter's story. The young turtle's heart was pounding in his chest.

He had known that he had been mutated by the Krangg but to be honest he never thought his backstory would be this complicated.

Wind let his gaze drift down his mind spinning. He was in fact from the same litter as Donnie, Mikey and Raph. This revelation made his heart stir and his resolve all the stronger. He was in fact , by blood, their brother. Wind had somehow been separated during the confusion of the fight that fateful day years ago.

He was also the son of Hamoto Yoshi, it was his human DNA involved in the four turtles mutation. The rat in front of him was in fact his father.

He could see from the guilt and hurt that radiated in the wise Rat's eyes that such an incident was never intensional and something that had haunted Master Splinter for quite some time. From the way the story was told Wind had the impression that the details of the day had been a blur and with arriving to safety with three turtles the ninja had questioned himself if they were all accounted for. Wind felt his heart pain at the thought. Just as the mutation had changed their lives forever another action, intentional or not, had changed the course of not one but five lives. It was in fact a lot to take in.

"I can never begin to apologize, my son" The elderly rat's eyes held an ocean full of pain and regret.

Looking up, Wind let the tears he'd been holding back finally break loose. "There is nothing to forgive…father." With that Wind leaned forward throwing his arms around the grieving ninja master. Splinter sat in shock for a moment before pulling the son he feared forever lost close to his own chest, his grip tight.

Deep in his heart Wind felt something he hadn't even known was broken began to heal.

"I can't find him!" Mikey's voice grew in panic. The orange clad turtle searched frantically through the pillows on the couch as though somehow beyond reason the object of his search would be hidden there.

"How could you leave him alone Mikey?!" Raph demanded the red clad turtle searching the rafters and behind the pillars for their long lost brother.

"I didn't," Mikey argued. "I was just in the kitchen making cookies. I was only gone for a few minutes!"

"I step away to check on our counterparts and you two manage to lose our brother who was miraculously restored to us after all these years! We had him one day! One day!" Donnie's voice hitched in panic, his brown eyes wide.

"He can't be far" Mikey argued, his blue eyes searching the room. "He probably stepped away for some air, after all we told him he could explore a little."

"Well where haven't we searched?" Raph asked, running his hand over his head.

Suddenly all eyes darted to the dojo.

The three brothers rushed to the dojo as one, despite their urgency they were quiet as they opened the sliding doors. Relief filled them as they saw Wind in the dojo. They were surprised to see him sitting with their father. Master Splinter had hovered anxiously when Wind had been brought home wounded, had been there for his three sons as they waited for him to wake up but had been oddly scarce since he'd awoken. It was obvious that the father and son were having their own reunion.

The two sat in an emotional embrace both had tears streaming down their faces.

Tears in his own eyes Mikey rushed into the dojo and over to the pair quickly joining the hug, his arms wrapped tightly around his brother.

Pulling his head away from the warm, now tearstained robes Wind turned to pull the orange clad turtle into the embrace, fully giving into the emotions that had been pulling on his heart since he first woke up.

Hesitating only momentarily Donnie also joined the embrace, the purple clad turtle snuggling right beside Mikey to join the hug. Wind nuzzled the purple clad turtle's head, a continuing stream of tears flowing from his eyes. Choked up with his own tears, Raph hugged Wind from the other side, wrapping all three of his brothers in a tight embrace. Feeling his heart swell, Wind hugged his three brothers impossibly tighter, letting his tears fall unbidden now. Smiling warmly, Master Splinter wrapped his arms around his four sons.

Four, not three.

His own tears falling and mixing with that of the joyful family. Because, everything was how it was meant to be. Everyone was where they belonged.

Authors Note:

Thank you all for reading!

Finally the brothers are four as they were always meant to be. I hope for more fluff in the future.

As a side note Kashikoi Ki is the name of the tree in the dojo. Kashikoi Ki' is Japanese for 'Wise Tree' at least according to google translate, I do not speak Japanese and if I am in fact wrong in this regard please correct me.