Warning! This story contains some cursing and adult situations which may be inappropriate for some readers. This story is voluntarily rated PG for parental guidance. This story also contains religious discussion which may be offensive to some readers.
The next morning, Raph didn’t appear at breakfast until ten. Don was already off in the barn, April and Shadow were reading in the living room, Leo and Casey were attempting to fix the blender, and Mike was eating a late breakfast of cold pizza, as Klunk enviously looked on. “Hey, bro,” he said with a grin. “Up a little late?” Raph was usually the first one up, and he had never appeared this late or this exhausted.
“Shaddup,” he grumbled, and poured himself a cup of coffee. He had been up at one, three, and seven to reheat milk for the puppy, and he’d spent most of the rest of the night cuddling and comforting him as he whimpered. Saving puppies, he decided, is not as easy as I thought. I wonder how many nights I’ll have to do this before he can feed himself? He decided to get an alarm clock; he’d read something about ticking clocks reminding puppies of their mother. Maybe that would mean both of them could get more sleep.....
“-we can do an exercise run later. Hey, Raph...Earth to Raphael...” Raph blinked.
“Huh?”
Mike snickered. “I’ve been talking to you for the last five minutes! I think you need to go back to bed, bro.”
“Maybe I will,” said Raph, “If you guys don’t get off my back!” They all laughed at him.
“Yeah, and you guys say I’m old,” said Casey. “Yer turnin’ into an old woman, man. Sleepin’ late, don’t wanna exercise....” Raph grunted and poured more milk into the saucepan. Casey was surprised. He’d expected Raph to knock his head off, or at least say something snide. He exchanged a worried look with Leo. “Uh-Raph.”
“Wha?” Raph asked sleepily.
“Somethin’ up?”
“Nah, man. Just leave me alone, huh?” Raph took his milk upstairs with his cup of coffee. Mike shook his head.
“Is he shooting up or hung over?”
“Raph is a lot weirder than this when he’s drunk,” Leo put in.
“Not weirder, just meaner,” corrected Casey.
“You ought to know!” April called from the living room. “You’re the one at dinner who was like, ‘Hey, where do you keep the beer?’” The turtles laughed with April.
Casey growled. “Just wait, punks, you’ll be laughing outta the other side of yer green faces when I rip yer tongues out.”
“Let’s see you try!” exclaimed Mike.
“Yeah?” Casey dove for Mike, toppling the chair.
“Oof, watch it, you big jerk!” cried Mike as Casey and the chair landed on top of him. With a cry of protest, the cat skittered out of the way. He grumpily settled down in a corner and complained about the disturbance to no one in particular.
“Ha ha! Now I’ve got you!” Casey energetically wrestled with the turtle. Finally, Mike shoved him off with a kick to the stomach and pinned him.
“One, two, three!” Leo counted, playing referee. “You’re out, Casey!”
“Yeah, that was rigged,” Casey grumbled as Mike helped him up. “What’s up, Don?” The other turtle had just entered the kitchen.
“Time for breakfast.” He grabbed a slice of Mike’s pizza.
“Hey!” Mike cried. “Just because you have to spend all morning in that stupid workroom-”
Don cackled. “Good pizza.” He poured coffee into his mug. “Anyone seen Raph yet?”
“Yeah, he was here just a couple minutes ago,” said Leo.
Mike grinned. “Ready for his “Morning of the Living Dead” audition.”
Don snorted. “We going for the Christmas tree?” he asked.
“Yup,” said April, entering the room. “In fact, I meant to ask Raph when he wanted to go.” Traditionally, it was Raph and April and Shadow who went for the tree, but this year they’d decided to make an outing of it and have everyone go. Even Casey had agreed, prompted by Raph.
“I’ll ask,” announced Mike, and dashed up the stairs. A minute later, he returned slowly, looking crestfallen. “He said he’s not going,” Mike said in a disappointed tone of voice.
“What!” exclaimed Casey. “He was the one who insisted that everybody had to come!”
Leo frowned. “We finally got him to stop acting like such a jerk at Christmas, and now all he wants to do is stay in his room!”
“You think he’s still disappointed that we aren’t spending Christmas in the city?” asked April.
Don shook his head. “Nah. If he were, why would he start being all strange now? He’s been fine all week.” As fine as that jerk can get, anyway, he added to himself.
“It started just after his walk last night,” Leo pointed out. “Maybe something happened.”
“I saw his tracks going out toward the highway.” They all froze and looked at Don.
“What the hell was he doing by the highway?” Leo’s voice was dangerously edged.
“Maybe he was seen,” said Mike in a small voice. The possibility scared all of them.
“I’ll go talk to him,” said Leo with a sigh. They all waited while Leo rose and went up to Raph’s room. He knocked on the door.
“What?” Raph called. Leo tried the door. Locked.
“We need to talk.”
“I’m listening.” Leo sighed again. Cripes, he’s annoying! Why can’t he just talk to me face to face?
“Were you out by the highway last night?” His voice was flat.
“Um.” Raph was surprised. How does he know? Raph grimaced as Leo answered his unspoken question.
“Don saw your tracks when he went out to the barn this morning. What’s wrong with you? Don’t you realize what danger you were putting us all in?” Leo was practically ranting. Can I read him or what? thought Raph in amusement. But he was still shocked by Leo’s next question. “Did someone see you?” His voice was accusatory.
“No!” Raph cried. “Don’t you think I would have told you if I had been seen?”
“I don’t know. You don’t tell us much of anything.” Raph tried not to get angry. He doesn’t believe me!
“You don’t believe me!” Raph accused.
“No, I don’t Raph. Something’s up, you can’t deny it. You’re acting really strangely, and it started after your walk last night.” Leo tried to stay calm, but his voice was rising in anger. Why can’t he just admit it?
“Get out of here,” Raph said flatly. “Get out!” Slowly, deliberately, Leo turned and went back to the living room, where the others waited in tense silence. They’d heard Raph yelling and been prepared for a really extreme argument. So they were surprised when Leo appeared, face livid, to shake his head.
“Can’t get anything out of him. God, I wish Splinter was here. He would handle this.”
“Speaking of which, where is he? D’ya think he’ll want to come help with the tree?” asked Mike.
“If you’d gotten up at a decent hour, you’d know,” said Leo.
“Hey, I need my sleep!” Mike protested.
“He took the day off, said he’d be back tomorrow morning,” explained Don.
“Oh.”
“Guess it’s a rat thing,” said Casey. “Needed some off time from you four.” Mike scoffed loudly.
“More like from you!” Mike shook his head. “Humans. Huh.”
“They’re a lot easier to deal with than Mr. Attitude, at any rate,” Leo said under his breath.
April put her hand on his arm. “C’mon, Leo, forget about it. Let’s just have fun getting the tree.” Leo shook his head.
“I should stay here and keep an eye on him.”
“No,” said Mike. “Don’t you think you’ve pissed him off enough?”
“That’s the weird thing,” said Leo. “He didn’t even get mad at me. Just ordered me out.” He frowned.
“Uh, Leo, he was screaming at ya. That doesn’t qualify as “getting mad”?” Casey asked, arching an eyebrow.
“Coming from Raph, that’s more like mild annoyance,” said Don with a snort. “I’ve seen him mad, believe me.”
Shadow tugged Leo’s arm, breaking the tension generated by Don’s still evident (though supressed) anger at Raph. “Come on, Uncle Leo, I want to get a tree!” Mike tousled her hair.
“Right away, princess. Let’s get your coat on.” She ran for her jacket and mittens. The other turtles bundled up, and April glared at Leo until he, too, picked up his jacket.
“Fine. But if something happens, remember that it’s not my fault.”
“Fine,” said Mike. “Let’s go.”
Raph listened carefully to hear them leaving, then watched him out his window until they disappeared into the woods. With a sigh of relief, Raphael carried the puppy down to the living room and flicked on the television. Klunk was reluctant to share his couch at first, but when he spotted Taiwam, he hissed and scooted away to sulk in Mike’s room. Raph popped in “Terminator 2”; it was too bad he hadn’t watched it with the guys last night, but he’d wanted to stay with Taiwam. He stroked the tiny dog as he watched the movie.
He was wakened by voices on the porch. Crap! The movie was long over, Taiwam asleep in his arms. He must’ve dozed off hours ago! The guys would be back with the tree. He silently scaled the stairs in a few bounds and slammed the door to his room behind him as his friends entered downstairs.
They laughed as Mike and Don attempted to stand the tree upright in the tree stand April was setting up in the living room. Shadow jumped around happily, shrieking, “Christmas is coming!” Casey and Leo tried to help Mike and Don. Finally, Leo gave a huge shove and the tree was in the stand. The turtles held it securely as April knelt and screwed the clamp tight. Casey brought in water for the tree.
April chuckled. “Now all we have to do is find all the old decorations.” Mike and Leo’s faces fell as they remembered the cluttered attic where all the boxes of decorations were kept amidst years of accumulated junk.
Don grinned. “Don’t worry, it’s a little cleaner than last time. I did some work on it in anticipation for the search.”
“You’re a life-saver, man,” said Casey.
“Hey look,” said Mike, pointing to the fuzzy TV and the now half-empty bowl of m&ms. “Looks like the Raphster was out and about.” Leo grew solemn again. For a while, he had forgotten about Raph. He went over and flicked off the television. Mike removed the tape.
“Huh. Too good to watch TV with us, I guess.” He flashed the tape at them.
“Curiouser and curiouser,” quipped Don.
April just shrugged. “Whatever his problem is, I’m sure he’ll be fine soon. You guys worry to much.”
“Can’t help it,” said Mike. “He’s our brother.”
“I know,” said April, “But he just needs some space sometimes. It’s not like Raph being solitary is anything new.”
“I know,” said Leo slowly. “But I just hoped maybe this year-” He stopped and shook his head. “I’ll see if he wants to help us look for the boxes.”
“No, I will,” said Mike. “I’m the only one who hasn’t tried to pull him out yet. Maybe he’ll listen to me.”
Raph almost jumped out of his shell when Mike softly knocked and opened the door. Damn! I forgot to lock the door. Don’t go around, Mike, stay there. He willed Mike not to go around the bed and see the box where the small puppy slept.
“Raph,” Mike said quietly. He didn’t move. Maybe Mike would go away if he stayed really still. Mike closed the door behind him.
“Sleeping,” he said in wonder. “He’s in there sleeping.” Raph never slept at midday. Not even when he was little and Splinter tried to make the four of them take naps before afternoon exercises. Raph had always wriggled and whispered, and never once had he actually slept. Mike suddenly wondered, “Where’s Klunk? It’s lunchtime, he usually comes in begging for food about now.” Klunk NEVER missed a meal if he could help it. Like Mike, Leo thought idly.
“Dunno,” said Leo. Mike went upstairs, and soon returned with a dissatisfied Klunk held in his arms.
“Found ‘im hiding under my bed,” proclaimed Mike.
“Well, let’s have lunch, and then get started,” said Don. The others agreed, so they all trooped out to the kitchen. Don made half a dozen chicken sandwiches with barbecue sauce. Shadow just made a gagging noise and fixed herself tuna salad. “Think Raph’s hungry?” asked Don.
Leo shrugged. “If he is, he’ll come down.”
Mike offered Klunk a small piece of chicken, but the cat refused, pacing nervously up and down the room. Mike frowned. “That’s weird. Klunk never refuses chicken.”
“Maybe he’s not hungry,” said Don.
“Not likely,” snorted April. “That cat’s always hungry.”
Mike crouched next to the cat and scratched behind his ears. “‘Sup, Klunk? What’s spookin’ ya, boy?” The cat didn’t respond.
Mike grunted. Something weird was going on, he knew. He only wished he knew what it was.
* * *
Mike was chopping vegetables for beef stew when Raph appeared, looking quite a bit more awake than he had that morning. “Ah, sleeping beauty awakes,” Mike joked. Raph whacked him in the arm. Yup, he’s back to normal all right, Mike thought with satisfaction.
“Can I help?” Raph snatched the knife and brandished it menacingly. Or not.
“Sure. Chop the onions.”
“Rahhhh!” Raph attacked the onions with the knife, wildly slashing at them. Mike rolled his eyes.
“Don’t be a dork,” snorted Mike. “Here, I’ll show you.” Raph actually stood still long enough to watch Mike show him how to chop efficiently, with the tip of the knife never leaving the cutting board. Then he went back to his old method with tremendous zeal. Mike shook his head and returned to the carrots.
The others were pleasantly surprised to find Raph attacking the bread as they came into the kitchen for dinner. They didn’t mention his earlier behavior, and after he socked Casey for making fun of his crooked bread slices, no one mentioned that either. Dinner passed pleasantly with conversation carefully avoiding the subject of Raphael’s journey to the highway. And Raph was perfectly normal (for him), except for one half-hour trip up to his room that no one bothered to ask about and he didn’t explain. Casey, Raph, and Mike sparred (using wooden practice swords) with Leo, Don, and April for the dishes, and to their surprise, Casey and friends lost. With some good-natured grumbling, they scrubbed the pots out as their compatriots snickered at them.
Then they gathered in the living room to pull long strings of lights our of the boxes Don and Casey had salvaged from the attic. April put on one of Mike’s Christmas CDs, and they all began to work on the tree. Mike made popcorn so that they could all stab themselves trying to string it. Then they did the tinsel and ornaments, Casey lifting Shadow to reach the highest branches, and the three humans barely holding back their giggles as the shortish turtles strained to reach the top on their own. Casey earned himself another punch in the shoulder for teasing Raph about his height, and when he made a remark about turtles being midgets, they all tackled him. It took them nearly three hours to trim the tree, and another ten minutes for Shadow, perched precariously on Mike’s shoulders, to put the angel on top.
Mike disappeared as they all sat down to relax, and returned ten minutes later with a tray loaded with mugs of hot chocolate and a heaping plate of his precious peanut butter cookies, Hello Dollies, and cutouts. Raph grabbed a Hello Dolly and went to the kitchen, calling “Be back in a minute, guys.” It was more like twenty, but again they didn’t mention it when he returned. But they were all dying to know what exactly he was doing up there.
They didn’t have another occasion to think about it, because Raph didn’t leave again. They stayed up till midnight, Casey carrying Shadow up to bed at ten o’ clock, getting sugar-loaded and talking, gazing at the beautiful tree, which Raph agreed was a very good choice. Leo was happy, too, determining to forget about earlier incidents. Maybe Raph is going to make this a good Christmas after all. In fact, the only unusual incident was that when Mike handed Klunk to Raph, the cat had dug his claws into Mike’s arm and refused to have anything to do with Raph. Everyone chalked it up to “a cat thing,” but Mike was sure that something was amiss for Klunk to act so strangely. Finally, they were all yawning too much for conversation to be possible.
“Time for bed,” Raph announced, standing up. “Oh, and while I’m thinking of it, anyone have an alarm clock?”
Mike giggled. “Going to get up before ten tomorrow, Raph?”
“Maybe.” Raph grinned amiably.
“I think there’s one in my closet, Raph. Let me see.” April went off to check, and soon returned, triumphant, with the small black clock in hand.
“Thanks,” said Raph. He headed off to his room, thinking happily, That should make Taiwam happy. Maybe the little bugger will actually let me sleep tonight.