A visit from the future. Chapter three

...

Raphael closed his eye briefly then looked up at the four younger ones. " After you left...Something happened. Like there was a laps er something. We woke up ta be somewhere completely different. It was our time, yeah. There wasn't anything really there, just-just this plain room." Raphael said, gesturing out in front of himself, " So we got up and..Well..."

...

" Raphael, Raph open your eyes-er eye"

Jerking forward, Raph blinked back the heavy daze. Pushing the hand from his shoulder, he sat up. Looking to the side, he saw his younger brother. " Mike? What tha hell? Aint you..aint we supposed ta be d-dead?" Raph whispered out, his voice harsh and raw with emotion. "I-I saw you fall, fuck, I saw Leo fall..How-"

Mikey shook his head. " I don't know Raph, but we're all here, Leo and me.."

" No Don, though" Raph snapped.

Mikey shook his head, sitting on the bed beside Raph.

The strange room was bear. The walls were a cream color, cracks ran freely and randomly. There were beds set along all the walls, all of them made to perfection. No pictures. No windows. No one.

Something was wrong. Something was very wrong. They'd gone into battle following the young Donatello, he saw his brothers fall, saw as their faces slacked and everything from that point. He'd felt as his rage took over, blinding him from anything else, from common sense.

He'd died.

They had all died.

Raph's head snapped up. " Where's Leo?"

Mikey rub at his face, his mask falling into his hands. Looking up at his one eyed brother, Mikey gave a grim smile. " He woke up first, then me, he...He was talking to someone, but I couldn't see who. They were talking to low for me to hear anything though. Leo looked at me when I woke up, said everything would be fine, then left with her."

Raph nodded, a scowl in place." What the hells going on, Mike?"

Before he could answer, a door opened, revealing their eldest brother and a cloaked figure.

The cloak was a rich navy blue. It covered the entire figure, flowing across the floor and the hood shaded the face, making it so you couldn't see who was underneath.

Leo and the other talked in hushed tones yet again, then Leo came over to them, the cloaked figure leaving the same way they'd come in.

" Uh, welcome back, Raph" Leo said, walking closer. A wary small smile playing over his scarred face.

Raph simply nodded.

Mikey gave Leo an apologetic shrug, going to sit beside him.

It wasn't often they spent time together.

After the war had started, everything had changed. Themselves included.

Leo was more drawn from them. He was set that he was no longer leader, he was no fit for it. He was harsher, deadlier. After, after Spliters passing it had only gotten worse. Raph was no help either, not with that.

Raph, he'd resented Leo. Blamed him for their masters death. He'd left shortly after, not being able to take it any longer.

Now Mikey. He'd change so much. His arm was lost early on, when they were still together, the three of them. After everything, after Leo had resigned as leader and Raph left to be a lone soldier, Mikey, he became the leader of the resistant. The one to fight the shredder, to bring hope to nothing.

Yes, the others had come to help every now and then, but it wasn't like the old days.

They weren't a team any more.

" Tha hellz going on Leo?" Raph snapped. You could see the frustration and nervousness etched into his face.

Leo turned to Raph, his black sun glasses hiding his ice white eyes. " You have to understand...it's-it's not going to be easy to grasp this but..."

...

The brothers turned to each other then the three older ones. " Well?"

Leonardo grinned. " we...we can't actually tell you how-how we got here, we made a promise, and we plan on keeping it."

Michelangelo leaned forward. " All we can really say is that the cloaked figure- which wont be named- saved us...They knew. They knew everything...They sent us here, knowing what was going on, and we don't have much longer before we need to leave Don- er Guys."

Don blinked, looking over to his brothers, then to the older ones.

All of that and they didn't get to know?

" That's not really fair." Don started, " You mean to tell me you're here, alive and well, all because of some cloaked figure, and you wont tell me how?"

Emerald green turtle sat up, his one amber eye blazing in all it's glory. " Don, ya need ta understand, now shuttap and listen ta me."

Don nodded, calming slightly.

" We aint tellin' ya. Period. So quit with your whining, and just get the fact through your head that we're at least alive and here."

An awkward silence went through the air. No one spoke as everything soaked in completely.

" Uh, you guys like hungry or something?" Mikey gave an nervous smile, really not sure what to do.

" I'll help you in the kitchen" Said Michelangelo, getting up and heading for the kitchen.

Mikey grinned, dashing off after him. " wait up, dude!"

...

Settling beside himself, Leo watched him with wary eyes. It was just odd. So many questions buzzed through his mind and he really wasn't sure if he should ask them. His older self was perched in the same lotus position in the dojo, they sat in peace, supposedly meditating. Leo could though.

It was all the what, how, and when's that drove him out of his state of calm.

" You really shouldn't stare, it isn't polite"

The voice snapped Leo out of his trance and he smile sheepishly at his older self. " I'm sorry, it is just-just odd. I have so many questions and thing I would like to know-"

" But you're unsure if you should ask, I know" Leonardo said, smiling in the direction his younger self. His black sunglasses reflected the light of the few candles and he gave a deep sigh. He hadn't felt this at peace in a long time.

" you can ask questions you know, it may not be your future, but it would still make us...brothers I suppose..In a way."

Leo sighed, staring at the elder. Brother. Maybe he could live with that.

Silence rang out and Leonardo was starting to believe maybe Leo had no questions or had to many. But a very small, very quiet question broke the barrier, echoing about the dojo.

" What happened to your eyes"

Swallowing heavily, Leonardo reached up and pulled off his glasses, revealing pale, grey eyes. His younger self couldn't help the gasp, and Leonardo didn't blame him. " It was my own fault really. The mission took place about two years after...after Donatello had disappeared. We'd gone in hoping to blow up one of the factories the foot were building when something must have caught an alarm."

"I ordered Mikey and Raphael out and I stayed to finish the job...When I set the explosive that would take out the top towers I heard a high pitched buzzing."

Leo clenched and unclenched his fists. The story sounded so much like other missions. They'd go in, something would go wrong, and he'd send the other two out to finish it himself so he could keep them safe. Would that really cost him his sight? No. It couldn't.

" Turning I was hit by a binding light. They'd ridge the place with foot tech and I lost my sight because I was careless. The flash knocked me out, and I wouldn't have made it if Raphael hadn't come back in."

" He does that." Leo said quietly, remembering the countless times Raph has come back all because he's to stubborn to listen to an order. It was a large reminder as to why he loved his rebellious brother.

" But Leo" Leonardo said, placing a hand upon Leo's shoulder. " If I could give you some advise"

" Of course" Leo said, bowing his head only to bring it up with a smile, even when he knew the elder could no longer see it. He hoped maybe he could feel it.

Leonardo nodded smiling. " Leo I know you are the leader, you have a great responsibility upon you to take care of your brothers and I know you want to take it on your self alone. But your brother are there for you. They are your team, better yet your brothers and as they are a part of this team, they are a part of what makes you a better leader. You need to work as a leader, Leo, but you need to listen as a brother."

Leo's eyes softened at the wisdom. "Thank you...I-I understand"

...

Mikey sat happily on the kitchen table, swinging his legs back and forth as he watched himself stir at what ever was on the stove. With his one arm. Next thing Mikey knew was that the older turtle was diving into the fridge and pulling out random foods and liquids. With his one arm.

Yeah, okay, maybe it was freakinghim out. But just a little.

But what was he supposed to think? He was old! He was old and cranky! He was old, cranky, dark, grumpy, and god he turned into Raph!

It wasn't cool, and he would be damned if this actually happened. No matter what, but from now on, he was going to sit on the couch, eat just food, play video games, watch the comedy channel and go skate boarding till he dies. Try to get him then grumpy genes!

" pass the broth would ya?" Michelangelo said, glancing behind him and at his younger self who seemed to be lost in thought. Bet he could guess what those thoughts were.

" Sure, dude" Mikey said. Turing he grabbed the can and tossed the can. Realizing what he'd done, Mikey gave a squeak and tried to catch the can mid drift, when an arm shot out catching the can.

" I've lived with one arm for quite sometime now..I can catch a can" Michelangelo said dryly. Rolling his eyes, he stirred in the broth.

" S...Sorry..It's just-Gah, dude you only have one arm! Your grumpy! You're-you're Raph man! It's killing me!"

The older turtle laughed. " Who'da thunk it, huh?" Shaking his head, he wiped his hands and sauntered over to the kitchen table, sitting heavily. " wanna talk er what?"

Nodding his head vigorously, Mikey jumped into a chair and shared at the other. There was so many thing he wanted to ask! Questions whirled around in his head, making him almost dizzy.

" Well?" Michelangelo said, his voice still gruff.

" I dunno what to ask first" Mikey said with a grin and shrug. Tapping his finger on the table, he bit his bottom lip. Why was this so hard?

" Ask an easy one then, dude" The one armed turtle said, motioning towards his arm with what represented a grin.

Mikey gave a frightened smile, not exactly sure if he wanted to know. " Okay..What-what did happen?"

Michelangelo bowed his head as he let the memories flow silently. " Another mission. But you gotta know...We weren't in the best of shape anymore. With don gone and the rest of us fallen apart at the seems we just could function like we used too."

Mikey nodded, all his attention focus on himself.

" Any ways, mission was pretty much done when we were attacked again. The foot were stronger then they used to be and it was a lot harder when your teams broken. It was a heavy blow to my arm, but it didn't-didn't break completely off...Just hung there-bleeding."

" Raph was the one who had to fix it all up, him and April. Thank god Don had given him some training for it...I don't know what I would have done."

Mikey gulped at the image of loosing an arm that way, and hoped he'd never have to. " Sorry dude."

Michelangelo gave a grim smile, " Past is the past. But hey, what can ya do, right?"

" I can keep my family together" Whispered Mikey. The one armed turtle smiled.

" I was hoping you say that, dude" His tone was light. " lil advice though, ya know for the future"

" You gonna tell me when I lost my arm so I can avoid it like the plague?"

" No"

" Gah, fine...Sooooo what?" Mikey whined, leaning against the table, his chair groaning as he leaned.

" You've gotta remember to be serious. Look I know goofing off and playing around is great, trust me but...When it comes time? You have to drop the act, be serious and think past the inevitable jokes to something far more helpful...It'll save you a lot" He finished quietly, older eyes looking into young energy.

Mikey waited a few seconds, letting the word soak in before he nodded solidly. " Ya...I get it dude"

...

Raph glared at the others, not liking the way Mikey and his older self had simply charged into the kitchen, full blown on cooking a meal one had seen many times, the other not for years. It was the way they accepted it as if it didn't bother his blue eyed brother in the least that his older self was cranky, gruffer, and oh, missing an arm?

A blazing amber eyes watched the young hothead, amused at his attitude. It was obvious this was before his anger had subsided, before the war, before everything, other wise this scene would have played out much, much different. Yes, it was a fact that he'd grown up. No, no the anger and his 'hotheaded-ness' never actually left, that would never change, it was who he was. But he did mature.

" What so funny?" Raph snarled, staring at his older self who watched him with laughing eyes.

Shaking his head, Raphael shrugged. " Find it funny is -uh, me. Younga me"

Raising an eye ridge, Raph glared at himself. " Why, ya old geaser"

Leather covered arms were cross as he looked down his beak at the younger terrapin. " Geaser?"

"What ya went deaf too?" Raph retorted.

No, he didn't like his older self. He was way to, to...He couldn't even explain it. He just didn't like 'em.

" Gun fire and explosions wore on it, but I can hear fine thank ya very much" Rapheal said, his voice deeper and much gruffer.

Raph eyed him carefully. " Gun fire, huh? I mean explosions I get, but what did ya do ta run into that much gun fire to wear on your hearin' so quick?"

" Wars a bitch" Raphael said bluntly making Raph chuckle. Raphael smirked since he finally got something out of his younger self.

" Ya gonna tell me happened or leave me hangin'" Raph said bluntly. He didn't look at the one eyes turtle, just stared off towards the kitchen.

" Let's hit the garage" Raphael said, walking off knowing Raph would follow soon after.

Once in the garage Raph spotted his older self beside the shell cycle. Sauntering over he grabbed an extra stool, waiting.

Giving a large huff of air, Raphael cracked his neck, settling comfortably on the stool. " Was way back when I lost it." He started off, " Went patrolling with Casey. Damn idiot saw I woman gettin' mugged- You'd think he'd be used to it- and he rushed inta save her. The dumb ass didn't see the punks till they were on 'em."

" Went in afta him- he'd gone down hard- and I lost it. Ended up losing my eye...And my best friend."

Raph's head snapped up at that. " What?...C-Casey? No, not Case" He whispered.

Raphael nodded. " Ya.." He whispered, " Doesn't get much betta. Hell, trust me, ya don't want this shit."

" Hey, one thing though" Raphael said, piercing young eyes with a hardened look.

" Shoot"

" Listen ta Leo. Half the shit that goes down he does do with good reason. Listen ta instinct, but give it a bloody leash so it don't get outta hand"

Raph sighed, picking up a wrench and played with it idly. " Yeah, yeah"

Raphael nodded, knowing he'd gotten a point across even if Raph didn't show much for it.

" Wars a bitch" They both said in union. Grabbing a few more tools, they set about repairs. Anything to get their minds off the future.

For a little while.

...

OMG HEY! Long time no see! The long awaited update! This took for eva to write! 8 pages on my count! GAH. Sorry for the wait, but school was kicking ass lol. Oh, and more will come about 'the cloaked figure' so no worries ^^

Review! Reviews, reviews, reviews! Please? It's been a while since I've written and I'd like to know how this went! KK LUV YAS! Ruthy.