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Last chapter:

"I hope we make it outta this alive," Raph growled nervously, gripping the bottle's neck tightly. "Cause I really, really, really OWE YOU ONE, LEO!"

We're gonna die, we're gonna die, and it's all my fault! Leonardo kept thinking as he tightened his grip on the metal pipe he'd found. This thought kept replaying itself loudly and insistently in his head- and yet there was one more, quiet yet more powerfully insistent voice kept interrupting, making itself overheard eventually loud enough for him to understand: Protect your brother! Protect your brother! You must protect your brother!

Raphael, eyes never leaving this dangerous stranger, kept thinking two things over and over himself: Why didn't I wake Splinter up? Why didn't I wake Splinter up?

But the most overriding thought- Protect your brother! Protect your brother! You must protect your brother!

The stranger laughed hoarsely. His voice was harsh and whispery and scary to them. The hat he wore low, covering the top part of his face; the collar of his long coat was turned up to hide the rest of it. All they could see were two eyes; two eyes that glowed with pleased emotion.

"So! Two young 'gentlemen' out of their home at this hour of the night!" the voice laughed, and it grated on their ears like nothing they'd ever heard. "Probably sneaked out without anyone knowing that they are gone... or where they have gone..." and this last part nearly caused both of them to cry in fear at the myriad of possible meanings.

Only their close contact with each other kept them from falling to pieces. Through their tears showed the grim determination to protect each other! They were brothers! Splinter always drove home that point, whether it was in the dojo during training or in the bedroom mediating in a pointless squabble.

They were brothers!

"S-Stay away from us!" Leo's voice cracked loudly, both fierce and frightened. "Stay away from my brother and me! We know how to fight!"

The tall stranger pretended fear, which made them both more fearful than before- and strangely enough, more angry; more determined;

More willing to make sure that the other one had a chance to get away!

"We mean it!" Raph asserted, breaking the bottle on the wall behind him like he'd seen in countless bad movies on TV- startling himself as well as only leaving him with what he held in his hand plus two inches beyond that- "We mean it!" his voice suddenly squeaked despite his anger. "We can protect ourselves!"

"Protect yourselves!" the stranger laughed, and took a step forward, causing the two six-year-olds to back up against the wall without thinking. "Fight! You two can fight ME?"

"Our Sensei has taught us to fight like Ninja!" Leo bellowed. "He is a great teacher! You will be sorry to have challenged us!"

"Fight like ninja?" and now the stranger laughed loudly. "Taught you to fight like ninja? He is a failure as a Sensei!"

Both of them froze at these words: not just the meaning- or the speaker- but it was as if suddenly there was something familiar about this voice- something threatening- but not evil- something well known-

"He is a failure!" the familiar voice reasserted, stepping even closer to the two frightened turtles. "He failed to teach you to keep your word of honor! He failed to teach you to follow the command of a parent!"

And now he leaned closer, tipping the hat back and lowering the collar, revealing whiskers! Whiskers and a furry snout!

"He failed to teach you how to even buy milk!"

Both of them dropped their weapons and cried like babies. As one, they suddenly wrapped themselves round this "mysterious stranger", so choked up with emotion they couldn't even beg for forgiveness.

Splinter, still weak, still ill, still angry- managed to center himself in the hysterical tears of his sons; he managed to draw a healing breath- and to hug both of these boys, feeling some guilt at having to frighten them, mixed with much anger at their having done this thing- but at the same time, great joy that they had NOT encountered anyone else tonight!

"I am so disappointed in the two of you," he hoarsely croaked, and their tears flowed even more freely as they realized that they should have recognized that sound- considering how many days they'd listened to it in their father's illness. "And yet, I am so relieved to have found you both before anyone else has. My sons... my sons..."

And despite his anger, he comforted the two for a short time.

Then he let go of them and made them follow him to the man hole cover...

And past it!

Both turtles froze, still clinging to Splinter's long coat, trying to keep him from leaving the alley.

"Sensei! Where are you-" Leo tried asking, but the look that Splinter suddenly turned on him froze the words in his throat.

"I am going across the street to buy some milk," he replied calmly, gently removing their hands from his disguise. "Wait here. I will be right back."

"We don't need milk! Please, let's go home!" Raph begged, trying to keep his father from leaving them alone.

"I will be right back. Stay here and watch for me. It will not take long."

And he was gone before they could protest more.

They would have followed him if they had dared, but the adventure in the alley had robbed them of all power except the power of frightened imagination. They had lost sight of him for a bit as the night had swallowed him up, and they strained their red-rimmed eyes trying to find any trace of him.

"There!" Leo gasped, pointing at the figure of their father, hat and collar once again shielding his unique features, entering the store.

"Oh, no," whispered Raph, for at that moment a police car pulled into the parking lot, and two uniformed humans got out and entered as well.

They could barely breathe- their hearts were pumping so hard and fast that they could hear each other's- Splinter was visible, picking up two jugs of milk. One of the police officers walked up behind him, reaching out an arm towards their father!

"No, no, no, no, no!" Leo wanted to scream, but he barely voiced his words. It was as if his vocal chords were rebelling against him. His throat felt constricted; he could barely swallow, much less cry out his fear!

The arm went past their father and picked up a small carton. With a nod to each other, Splinter made his way to the counter, where the other officer was waiting for his partner. The clerk seemed to speak to Splinter, who nodded, got his change, picked up the two bags, and calmly exited the store.

Neither turtle seemed to remember how to breathe until he was safely back in the alley with them. Handing them the bags without any words, he led the way to the manhole cover, and with difficulty moved it so they could return to the depths and safety.

All the way home the two were silent. Raph and Leo took turns carrying the heavy bags and assisting their still ill father. Splinter as well didn't speak. He was still too angry to voice anything at the moment, and wished to be calmer when he finally addressed these two. His worried parent adrenaline rush was exhausted, and it was taking all his strength to make it home as it was- at the moment he had none to spare in righteous paternal wrath.

Finally they reached the darkened Lair.

"Put the milk away, then go to bed," he weakly rasped out. "We will discuss this later this morning."

"Father-" Leo tried, voice choked once again with crying, but Splinter shook his head, leaving them without a backward glance as he slowly made his way back to his own room, one hand supporting himself against the wall as he went.

"Later, Leonardo. I am too tired and too upset to talk about it now. Put the milk away please, and go to bed. Now!"

And with that he entered his room and shut the door.

Leo and Raph didn't even look at each other. Sniffling, they put the milk in the fridge, then went into their own room, dumping clothing and boots in a careless pile then climbing into their own bunks.

But neither one got much sleep.

Michelangelo got up without the prodding of Leonardo, which was shock number one.

Shock number two: the pile of clothes littering the floor. He glanced at both of his apparently sleeping older brothers, but instead of prodding them he shut off the alarm and made a dash for the bathroom, crowing about being first!

In the kitchen Mikey found shock number three: MILK!

"Donnie!" he shouted, as if he couldn't believe his eyes. "Donnie! Come here! Hurry!"

Don, imaging some disaster, ran into the kitchen to find Mikey staring into the fridge.

"What's the emergen- MILK?"

Mikey looked at his older brother as if he could tell him how this was possible. Don, however, looked just as puzzled as his younger brother.

"Maybe Sensei is better?" Donatello guessed. "Maybe he went out and got it?"

Mikey suddenly shouted "OH!" and made tracks for their bedroom, closely followed by Don.

Mikey grabbed up some of the clothing- two jackets! Two pairs of pants!

"NO! They couldn't have!" he was gasping, and Don, studying the situation, jumped to the same conclusion: their brothers had gone out of the Lair; had, indeed, gone topside!

"Oh, Donnie," Mikey began to cry. "Sensei is gonna kill them! I don't want him to kill them! What do we do? What do we do? I know! We throw the milk out! We hide the clothes and throw the milk out!"

Don had to physically restrain his brother from carrying out this plan.

"Mikey! Calm down! We can't do either of those things. Let's go see Master Splinter. It'll be all right," he added as Mikey made to protest. "Come on. We have to go see Master Splinter."

Slowly they made their way to the room of their father, and slowly entered.

Splinter was sitting up in bed, looking much better!

"Good morning, Sensei," they said in unison, bowing.

"How are you feeling this morning?" Donnie asked, immediately climbing up on the bed to feel his forehead. "Hey! I think your fever is gone!"

"Yes, my son," Splinter smiled. 'I think so as well. I am feeling much better, though still very tired." He looked at Michelangelo, who had remained rooted to the floor, looking distressed. In one hand he still clutched the two jackets he'd picked up in his room. "What is troubling you, my son?"

All of a sudden Mikey began to wail, and he threw himself onto his father's bed, leaping into a startled Splinter's arms, and hugging him fiercely.

"Please don't kill Raph and Leo! They didn't mean to buy the milk! Please don't kill them!" he begged, making quite a scene.

Splinter felt like laughing. Michelangelo was so protective of his brothers, even when they had lost all patience with him or fought with him. Even when he was maddest with them, he hated to see them punished. He didn't mind the little punishments, like flips or such, but he was convinced that his brothers had done Something Dreadful, and there was only one punishment for Something Dreadful: a terrible spanking! And that was only the first of the punishment! Cleaning the dojo floor with a scrub brush! Restricted to bed! No TV! And doing everyone else's chores for a week!

Well- that part wouldn't be so bad, he would love for Raph and Leo to do his chores for a week- but the rest!

So he pleaded for his brothers' lives as it were, and was almost inconsolable.

Splinter finally did laugh aloud, and that more than anything got Michelangelo to quiet down.

"I am not going to kill your brothers," he assured the sniffling child, as he accepted some tea and medicine from Donatello. "But I must punish them. Surely you can see that, Michelangelo. Call them in here for me, please, and you two shall hear what they have done, and help in the judgment."

Mikey, still sniffling, bowed and left the room. Donatello climbed up on the bed.

"Did they go out and buy milk, father?" he asked, and Splinter could hear the quiver in his voice- he, too, was concerned for his brothers' welfare.

"Yes and no," he replied. "We will wait until they are in here."

In the room, both Raph and Leo were awake, but neither one made a move to get up. They had heard the alarm go off. They had heard the commotion of their brothers in the kitchen and in the bedroom. They had pretended to be asleep so they could avoid any questions- and then they had heard Mikey wailing from Splinter's room.

"Great," Raph sighed. "I'm guessin' that he's begging Sensei not to kill us."

"Yeah," Leo agreed, staring at the wall. "Just what we need- our baby brother making things 'better'."

"Yeah, by makin' them worse," Raph couldn't help smiling. He spoke from experience. Mikey, in his brotherly attempts to get them out of trouble, usually landed them in more.

Leo laughed slightly.

"Well, I doubt we can be in more trouble then we already are. I'm sorry, Raph. I shoulda not let you come along."

"Naw, I'm sorry. I shoulda stopped you some how."

Neither one voiced the obvious "shoulda": they never "shoulda" gone in the first place.

Mikey's tearstained face peeked in the room. He was hoping they'd still be asleep and then he could tell Splinter they were still asleep and this could all wait until later.

But his brothers saw him, knew that he'd been sent for them, and got up at once. Mikey rushed them, hugging first one then the other, getting tears all over them in the process.

"Why did you do it?" he started sobbing afresh, and both brothers were hindered in their walk to Splinter's room by his clinging to them, tripping them up as he continued to try to embrace first one, then the other, back and forth and back and forth. It was all they could do to keep from shouting at him.

"Jeeze, Mikey, give it a rest!" Raph complained, but in a kind way. "He's not gonna eat us, ya know!"

"That is right, my son," Splinter's voice reached them. They entered the room to see Don sitting on the bed next to Splinter. "Michelangelo, you need to stop your crying and come here. We must discuss this as a family. If you cannot control yourself, you will have to go to your room until we are finished."

Mikey quickly gulped down the last of his tears, and smothered his sobs by holding his breath. He joined Don on the bed, facing his brothers, who stood shoulder to shoulder in front of Splinter, waiting for the boom to be lowered.

"Last night I had a strange dream," he said for the benefit of the two younger turtles. "I dreamed that I was speaking to Leonardo in the future. I do not remember much of what I said, but I am sure it was about caring for his brothers."

"Was it a scary dream?" Michelangelo couldn't help asking, and Splinter nodded his head.

"Yes. Parts of the dream were 'scary' as you say, and I will not repeat those parts. But parts of it were very good. And parts of it were rather foolish. I dreamed that you all needed milk. I dreamt it so much that I forgot everything else."

He looked now at the two oldest.

"Then I dreamed that I heard voices, and they were talking about leaving the Lair to buy milk. They were whispered, secretive, plotting voices, and they made me dream that my sons- who had both promised on their honor to not leave the Lair and go topside- had disguised themselves and were going to buy milk. Even though they had never been above ground for more than a few minutes. Imagine my surprise when I woke up to the sound of the door opening and closing!"

"You mean they really bought the milk?" Donatello couldn't believe it.

"No, they did not. But they intended to. They had dressed themselves and taken money and left the lair. I could not believe that this dream was true- until I got up and went to your room. Imagine my shock! My sons had left their home without anyone knowing, and were going to attempt to boldly enter a store to buy milk!"

Mikey looked at both of them, awe mixed with fear.

"You guys were crazy! What if they caught you? What if they put you in a zoo? What if-" and he almost started to cry again, imagining all sorts of horrors.

"What did you do, Father?" Donatello asked.

"I did what I had to do, my son. I had to get dressed and follow them as quickly as my illness allowed," Splinter replied. "I could not let anything happen to my sons, no matter how sick I was. I followed them wearing the clothes I put on when I go out, for I knew the tunnels were cold, and I did not wish to become even more sick. I had planned on catching up to them and dragging them home. And then I had an idea. I would follow them topside! I would teach them in a cruel way why they needed to listen to me."

He turned his attention back to Leonardo and Raphael.

"When you almost changed your minds, I was so glad," he told them. "And then you went anyway. Why is that?"

Leo looked as if he'd been jabbed with a pin. He wasn't expecting a question to be asked just yet. But he swallowed down his nervousness and faced his father.

"It is true. I almost changed my mind. Raph was pleading with me to go home. But I... well, Raph said something that made me... made me ashamed... and angry... and so I was foolish and decided to go topside anyway. It was all my fault. Raph is not to blame."

"We will discuss blame later," Splinter replied. "So, Donatello and Michelangelo, when I saw your brothers climb up the ladder and out of the manhole, I followed, waiting my chance. While they focused on this foolish mission, I quietly closed the manhole so they could not return. Then I stuck to the shadows and exited the alley under their very noses. I waited around the corner for them to appear. They finally got up their courage, and left the alley, stepping into the very public world. And they ran into me."

Splinter continued to weave this tale of terror, and after a moment, he noticed that Donatello and Michelangelo were beginning to struggle to not laugh. Splinter's description of how he was dressed and how terrified their brothers were at confronting this "stranger" was so comical that they were failing to suppress their amusement at the pictures in their mind of their brothers' fear. And all the time Leo and Raph stood there, facing this together.

"And now," Splinter concluded, as he finished telling them how he went to buy the milk and they had all come home, "it is time to decide a few things. But I would hear from you two first before I choose a punishment- for they must be punished I am afraid. They broke their word to me. Donatello, please go first."

Don looked at his brothers, picturing again in his mind their adventure. One thing truly puzzled him and he decided to address this question.

"Why did you decide to go buy milk, Leo? We could have gotten along without it. What made you think you needed to do such a thing?"

Leo swallowed hard.

"Father," he addressed Splinter rather than Don. "Your fever was very high, and you started talking to someone. Then you started talking to me, and you kept talking about the milk, and how it was important that Don and Mike have plenty of milk, and you told me to make sure they had plenty of milk and I saw that you were worried, and I got worried and- and- and I thought you meant that I should go get milk for them." His voice, starting out in strong justification, finished in an embarrassed whisper. As he told this tale, it finally occurred to him that Splinter had never told him to leave the lair and go buy milk. That had been his own idea; his own interpretation.

So he had lied to Raph after all.

He hung his head in shame. He had been justifying to himself that he'd been right, that Splinter had put him in charge- and now he saw that it had really been just his own willful thinking.

He got down on his knees in the manner he'd been taught, and addressed Splinter.

"I'm sorry, Father," he said sincerely. "I am truly sorry. I made a bad choice, even though I knew it was wrong. And I broke my word to you. And I disappointed you. Please forgive me." And he bowed to the ground and stayed there.

Raph was right behind him.

"I'm sorry, Father," he also apologized. "I coulda stopped Leo when I got in the room, and I shoulda woke you up and told you he was goin' instead of dressin' up and goin' with him. I made a bad choice, and I disappointed you, too. Please forgive me." And he, too, bowed to the ground.

"I forgive you!" Mikey, unable to take the situation any longer, voiced his judgment anxiously.

Donnie hit him with his elbow, signaling him to be quiet.

Splinter smiled at both of them.

"Donatello, your brother has already given his opinion. Do you have anything to say?"

"Well... I think they should be punished for making you get out of bed to go after them in those cold wet tunnels... and for making you leave the tunnels for the night air. You've been very sick, and you're still not better. But I guess we can forgive them," Don said, looking only at his father. "But they still need a punishment."

Splinter looked at the two on the floor.

"Both of your brothers agree, so I must side with them," he said. "I do forgive you. I will, however, not forget this incident. But I do forgive you both. Come here."

They jumped up and eagerly approached Splinter. He held his arms out to them both, and gathered them to him as if he would never release them again.

They gladly returned this protective hug and held on as if they would never let go. Then they joined their brothers and father on the bed.

"Man! I can't believe you two were so brave!" Mikey, now that the serious part was over, voiced his admiration- and earned himself a smack on the arm from Don.

"They weren't brave, shell-for-brains, they were stupid," Don admonished him.

Mikey frowned angrily. He wanted to argue with Don so much, but Splinter interrupted.

"They were both," he said calmly. "Though I prefer the term 'foolish' rather than 'stupid'. You know how I feel about that word. But they were brave. Leonardo, you say that I was talking to you. I am guessing that I must have been talking in my sleep, yes?"

"I think so. Only your eyes was open," Leo confirmed. "And you didn't talk like you knew I was there at first. And your fever was very high. But you drank the medicine for me and then you started talking about the milk. You acted all worried."

Splinter nodded, confirming his thoughts.

"I was worried. I am your father, and I worry about you all whether I am well or ill. That is part of my responsibility. It is not your responsibility to worry, however. This past week or more you all have had to worry too much over things. Michelangelo has had to take my job of cooking for you. Donatello has taken my job of caring for the sick. And you two took my job of inspecting the sewers to insure our home was safe. This is not the way it is supposed to be, but there is nothing we can do about that."

He looked at all four and smiled.

"I am proud of all of you," he said simply. "You have done well, and have taken good care of me as well as each other. I am pleased."

The four beamed at the warm words of praise from their father. They exchanged grins, and would have celebrated- but for one thing.

"What about their punishment?" Michelangelo suddenly remembered, and then cringed as Leo and Raph shot him rather startled and dirty looks for reminding Father of it.

Splinter looked at the two in question, and a slightly threatening smile played across his lips.

"Let us just say for now that I owe you one."