Chapter 5: Sleep in Heavenly Peace

When father and son had walked far enough into the dojo, Master Splinter turned to face Raphael, his countenance grim. The young turtle was staring at his feet, but noticing his father had stopped, he obediantly halted as well. He raised his head to look at his sensei.

"Why did you leave the lair when I have time and again given you specific instructions to not wander off alone?" Splinter demanded.

Raph's eyes again roamed elsewhere. "I just wanted to take a little walk."

The rat master's eyes narrowed as he struck the floor with his stick, causing his son to jump, regaining his gaze.

"That is not a good excuse!" he said, his booming voice causing Raphael to flinch. "Especially in these new sewers which are unfamiliar to you! What would you have done if you had not been able to find your way back? You could have been lost out there for much longer than just a few hours!"

Upon hearing how angry his father was, Raph began lightly trembling. He unconciously began retracting his head into his shell until his chin touched the upper lip of his plastron.

Splinter sighed deeply, seeing his son's distress. "Your brothers and I were very worried about you," he said, lowering his voice.

"Sorry." While the apology had been barely above a whisper, the young turtle's father could sense the sincerity in it.

"You are forgiven, my son," said Splinter gently, "But disobedience such as this cannot simply go unpunished. For the next week, you will - "

The ninja master stopped mid sentence as his ears suddenly perked up. Pulling his head back out of his shell, Raph listened curiously. It didn't take long for him to hear Michelangelo's excited voice coming toward them. The young turtle suddenly burst into the room, clutching something tightly in his arms, Leo and Donnie following close behind him.

"Master Splinter! Master Splinter!" he shouted excitedly, "Look!" Mikey stopped in front of his father and brother and stretched out his arms. In his hands was a stuffed brown bear with a white belly and mouth. A somewhat shabby looking red bow was perched on his head, but the bear itself appeared to be brand new.

"Where did you get that?" asked Splinter as he leaned down to examine the toy, his right hand stroking his short, thin beard thoughtfully.

"I found it on my bed," the young turtle replied.

Leo looked at his father curiously. "You mean it's not from you?" he said.

Mikey's eyes grew with excitement. "It's from Santa!" he gasped.

Donnie sighed. "Mikey, we've been over this, Santa's not real."

"But if it's not from Sensei, then who's it from?" asked Leo.

"If it's not from any of us, then it must be from Santa."

As the words left his mouth, Raphael found four shocked sets of eyes simultaneously shift in his direction. The young turtle folded his arms and did his best not to squirm under the sudden attention. Fortunately for him, Michelangelo was quick to break the silence.

"See? I told you it was from Santa! Even Raph says so!" said Mikey gleefully as he hugged the bear close.

"But that doesn't make any sense," said Donnie, "We've never gotten anything from Santa before. And why would he only bring something for you?"

Studying his sons thoughtfully, Master Splinter spoke up at last, "I believe Santa Claus only gives gifts to those who truly need them."

The turtles looked up at their father in surprise. They had never been able to wrestle a straight answer from him about whether Santa was real or not. Usually the rat master would respond to their inquiries with even more questions, leaving them more confused than before they began interrogating him. But now Splinter had all but admitted to the jolly man's existence.

"But... why would Mikey need a stuffed bear?" said Leo, breaking the silence.

"Perhaps it is not simply a bear, but a protector and a companion for when your brother feels most vulnerable," said Splinter with a gentle smile.

"Oh!" said Donatello, "You think the bear is to help with his nightmares!"

Mikey's face lit up upon hearing this. "Wow!" He held the bear even closer to his chest, but his face suddenly fell. "Oh no! He wasn't supposed to come 'til tonight! I didn't leave him any snacks or a drink or anything! Not even a carrot for his reindeer!" he moaned.

"Do not fret, Michelangelo. I am sure there is still something we can do to thank him." Master Splinter walked up to his youngest son, and, placing a hand on his shoulder, began leading him out of the dojo.

"Raphael," he said as he turned back briefly.

Disappointed his disobedience had not been forgotten in the fuss, Raph gulped as he awaited his punishment.

When Splinter was sure he had his son's attention, he continued. "You will join me in my meditation all this week," he said.

Having expected far worse, Raphael was caught slightly off guard. But he quickly replied, "Hai, Sensei!" when he noticed his father's gaze still upon him. With a nod, Splinter turned back around to lead Michelangelo out of the room. Mikey's cheery voice followed him down the hall.

"What should I name him? Ooh! I know! How about Mr. Claws! Get it? Because bears have claws, and it's from Santa Claus...!"

Once their father was out of earshot, Leonardo looked at Raph with disbelief. "Is that it? That's your punishment?"

Raph smirked as he brushed past his remaining brothers, a loud yawn escaping from his mouth. "Looks like it," he said as he headed toward his room, intent on finally getting the nap he'd never even had the chance to start. While all but Leo were far too young and excitable to find sitting still for a couple of hours anything but unbearable, Raph was aware that yet again he'd gotten off easy.

To not run off by themselves was Splinter's number one rule, usually resulting in additional chores and loss of television as well as meditation. This was in response to a time about two years ago when Michelangelo had gotten lost and had been missing for practically a full day. Their father had been almost as panicked and scared as the young turtle himself. Feeling his harrowing day had been punishment enough, Mikey too had avoided Sensei's wrath, but from that day forth the turtles could barely step foot outside their home without fear of the consequences.

But right now Raph was simply too tired to wonder about his good fortune. He pushed open the door to his room, rubbing his eyes with his free hand. Plopping himself down on his new bed, it didn't take long for his breathing to slow, his tired body finally getting the rest it had been longing for all day.

When Raphael awoke about two hours later, he lazily wandered into the common room. There in the middle of the floor sat Mikey with an array of action figures lined up in front of Mr. Claws. With a smile, Raph hopped down next to his brother and, grabbing an action figure, began interrupting whatever story Mikey had been trying to tell. The young turtle simply grinned, however, going along with the sudden plot twist as if he'd expected it all along.

The two played together happily until Master Splinter at last called them all for dinner. Their stomachs rumbling, the two boys immediately jumped up, Mikey being sure to snatch his bear and take it with him.

When dinner was over, Mikey suggested another Christmas movie - "You know, that one with the singing and the puppets that look like animals?" It was Christmas Eve, after all, a time to spend with family. So the whole family sat down to enjoy the boys' favorite version of "A Christmas Carol".

As the songs would play, Mikey would sing along at the top of his little lungs. Halfway through one of them, he glanced at Raph. Noticing his brother was watching him, Raphael returned the look with a smirk, rolling his eyes. From that point on, it seemed that Mikey sang with just a little more gusto than usual.

When the movie was finally completed, Splinter suggested they all make their way to the dojo to play some games. The boys agreed enthusiastically, and they all raced off to the dojo, laughing as they pushed and shoved one another in an attempt to reach the room first. They began by playing Turtle, Turtle, Rat - Mikey's personal rendition of Duck, Duck, Goose - before it devolved into an all out wrestling match. The young turtles gleefully cried out as they attempted to tackle their father who defended himself by tickling their stubby feet.

After a while, however, they all began to tire, and Splinter finally announced that it was time for bed. He led the turtles to their rooms, and this time Mikey showed no apprehension. The young turtle quickly raced to his room, clutching Mr. Claws close to him.

As Raphael went to enter his own room, however, Master Splinter stopped him. Raph turned to him as the rat positioned himself in such a way so that his back was to his other sons. This way, only the red banded turtle could see the small, folded slip of paper he pulled from inside his robe. He quietly handed it to the young turtle who took it curiously.

"I believe that this is for you," he said with a knowing smile.

As Splinter left to begin tucking his sons in for the night, Raphael looked at the piece of paper, puzzled. Turning it over, his eyes widened in surprise. He quickly darted into his room and shut the door behind him. Climbing into bed, he again studied the word written on it, for there in Michelangelo's inexperienced handwriting was simply "SANTA".

Glancing at his door, Raph hurriedly unfolded the paper and silently began reading the note.

"DEAR SANTA,

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR MR. CLAWS! I REALLY LOVE HIM! I KNOW HE WILL KEEP ME SAFE FROM BAD STUFF. I HOPE I CAN GROW UP BRAVE JUST LIKE MY BROTHER RAPH. YOU SHOULD GET HIM AND LEO AND DONNIE SOMETHING NEXT YEAR BECAUSE THEY ARE THE BEST BROS A TURTLE COULD HAVE. MAYBE SOME SCIENCEY STUFF FOR DONNIE AND A NEW SPACE HEROES TAPE FOR LEO AND A DRUM SET FOR RAPH. I DON'T NEED ANYTHING ELSE.

THANKS!

MIKEY

P.S. I PROMISE TO LEAVE TWO HELPINGS OF SNACKS NEXT YEAR!

P.P.S. A TIRE SWING WOULD BE NICE TOO."

Raph sat quietly as he scanned the note again. It was clear by the spelling that Master Splinter had helped his brother write it, but the message itself was all Mikey.

"Would 'Santa' like to be tucked in?"

Raphael jumped as Splinter's voice came from the doorway. He hastily refolded the note and hid it under his pillow as his sensei entered the room, closing the door behind him. As the ninja master calmly sat on the edge of his bed, a look of amusement in his eyes, the young turtle's face grew a few shades darker.

"Raphael, where did you find the bear?"

Raph wanted to protest, deny that he had anything to do with it, but he knew that he'd been caught. He also knew that a lie would upset his father just as much as the truth, so there was no reason to hide it. He timidly looked up at Splinter.

"...I found it on the surface," he mumbled. When he saw his father's eyes widen, the young turtle quickly pressed on, "I wasn't up there long! I peeked up through drains and stuff, looking for some kinda stuffed animal. Ya know, 'cause I thought if Mikey had one, maybe he wouldn't get so scared." Splinter's face softened again.

"But then I saw Santa with a bell and some presents on the ground. He was saying that they were for the poor, so I thought it'd be ok if I took one." A look of panic briefly crossed Raph's face. "He didn't see me, I swear! I grabbed it, found a bow in a nearby alley, and came right back!" At that, he looked away, pouting, and added, "I did get a little lost, though."

With a soft sigh, Master Splinter shook his head and placed a comforting paw on Raphael's shoulder. "My son, your desire to help Michelangelo is admirable, but you know it is dangerous to wander off on your own. Next time you wish to find a present for any of your brothers, all you need to do is ask. I would be honored to assist you." The young turtle nodded solemnly.

Splinter smiled gently. "Good. Now, it is time for you to get some rest."

The ninja master stood as Raph snuggled under his covers and removed his mask, setting on the makeshift nightstand next to his toy drum.

"Good night, my son," said Splinter as he pulled the blanket up underneath the boy's chin. He walked back to the doorway and turned, giving his son a calm smile before shutting off the light. "Merry Christmas."

When his father had closed the door, Raphael reached back under his pillow, feeling around for Michelangelo's thank you note. Smoothing it out carefully, he quietly placed it underneath his drum for safe keeping. He then slid back down and curled up in his bed, hugging his pillow tightly. As he closed his eyes, a content smile on his face, he could just barely make out a soft melody coming from Mikey's radio across the hall.

"...sleep in heavenly peace, sleep in heavenly peace."

A/N: I hope you enjoyed it - please let me know what you think. I've never written 6 year olds before, or a prominent father figure, come to think of it, so I'd love feedback on that. As always, critics and grammar nazis appreciated! Thanks for reading!