Finally, the epilogue. I had so much fun writing this whole story, and I just want to give a gigantic shout out to ALL my reviewers because you guys are the most amazing people on earth3 Thank you so much for following this story during this time, and good luck to all the readers about to take their finals this week like I am! That's right, I decided to write instead of study... XD I don't think it was a smart idea. Oh well! It makes me happy, so might as well enter the finals with a smile ;)

Leonardo was last to pull himself atop the roof. Raphael and Michelangelo scooted back to give him room, staying silent as they all turned back. Down to ground level, the lights of the police station were bright and welcoming. A few, silent minutes passed by until the doors opened and a lone man stepped through the doorway.

He had to stop when he found the six gang members tied together in front of the station entrance. All unconscious, they didn't stir as the officer studied them with confusion. A sticky note was stuck on the forehead of one man, and the police officer leaned forward and peeled it off. A few moments passed as he read the note, and then he began to step back towards the doorway. The three ninja at the rooftop perch didn't hear him as he opened the door and shouted for his companions, but they knew because within seconds, four suited officers had come out the door to see what the problem was.

The three ninja waited until the men were dragged into the station before moving. As silently as they had come, they noiselessly took the fire escape and fled into the shadows of the sewer entrance below. One loose end, tied.

"For the last time, stop going easy on me!" Donatello swung his bo, missing his youngest brother by a small fraction of an inch. His foot planted against the ground as he attempted a side kick, watching as Mikey tumbled aside and swung back around.

"I'm not going easy!" Mikey claimed, though it was an obvious lie. Many opportunities to strike his brother had risen, and he only pursued the ones he knew his brother would be able to dodge. With a quick leap, he exaggerated his movement to make sure Donnie saw him coming with both nun-chucks in the air.

Donnie sighed, summersaulting under Michelangelo's attack and bringing himself back to his feet. Both nun-chucks collided with the floor, where Donatello had previously been, and Mikey swung his body around to face him once again. "I won't know how much better I'm getting if you keep hesitating like that, Mikey."

Leonardo and Raphael exchanged a glance from across the room. They were kneeling side by side, watching the spar with ninja-like stillness. Both could see the scales tipped, but neither said a word. Rather go easy than to push Donnie's limits. It had been a few weeks since the injuries, which were neatly bandaged all over his body, and they had only begun light training for him the past few days.

Today was the day he had come to his brothers saying he wanted to step back up to normal training level. Which resulted in a small argument before they decided Mikey would spar with him. None of them needed to tell him to go easy, for Mikey was wary of hurting his brother. With his stiff, slow movements, they didn't dare call him out on it, because they would have done the same.

"Ah, c'mon Donnie. I'm just being chill! I'm not going easy." He replied, fisting his hand and pushing forward. Empty air swallowed his hand, and Donnie twirled his staff downwards, managing to trip Mikey during his move. With a startled yelp, Mikey face-planted against the dojo carpets.

With a quick counter, Mikey swung his legs around and wrapped them around Donnie's knees and ankles, twisting his hips and brining his brother to the ground with him. With a startled cry, Donnie turned sideways and landed on his plastron, his bo clattering from his hand and rolling away.

Both Raph and Leo had stiffened, and Mikey had paused his attack. But Donnie was untangling himself from his brother, getting to his feet and resuming his place. He was slightly wincing, but was doing his best to hide it. Without saying another word, he leaped at his rising brother and managed to land a kick to his plastron.

Mikey doubled, startled and unprepared as he fell backwards. Donnie leaped out, shoving his youngest brother to the ground and holding his forearm against his throat, successfully pinning him to the carpets. His youngest brother looked up at the winner, eyes wide at the unexpected counter. "You guys, I'm serious. I'm feeling a lot better, and I don't want you going easy on me." Donnie claimed, looking up and locking glances with Raph and Leo.

He was panting. Out of breath and wincing, he pulled himself off of Mikey and scrambled to his feet. He held out a hand, and Mikey hesitantly took it, getting right side up. Leo and Raph rose, making their way over and eyeing their purple-masked brother. "Stop looking at me that way." Donnie said, narrowing his eyes.

It was Raph who spoke first. "Donnie, you're bleeding." He said matter-of-factly, pointing to his arm.

Donnie raised his forearm to his eyelevel, studying it for himself. Leo and Mikey leaned forward to see, both looking horrified. Donatello didn't seem that all surprised. "Oh. I probably re-opened the arm wound. I'll bandage it again in a minute, but that doesn't mean you're off the hook from going easy on me like that." He shot Mikey a glare.

"Alright, alright. You caught me." Michelangelo held up his hands, surrendering. "I'm sorry."

Leo piped up before his purple clad brother could speak. "You're still in bandages and you're out of practice. Do you really expect us to be able to attack you full-on so soon?" He pointed out, crossing his arms.

Donnie stared back for several long moments, his breath becoming quieter as he caught it back. He finally sighed, looking down with an expression of defeat and dropping his injured arm to his side. "No, I guess not."

"Exactly. So let's go bandage up your arm and take a break, alright?" Leo suggested, turning and walking out of the dojo with the expectation of his brothers following. They crossed the pit towards Donnie's lab, with their purple-masked brother looking down as he walked, with the look of a beaten puppy.

Raph stepped forward and opened the door to the lab, and Leo flipped on the lights as the four entered. Mikey walked beside Donnie and kept glancing over at the blood seeping through the arm wrappings. Leo pulled the chair aside, holding it out and getting Donnie to reluctantly sit down.

Mikey got comfortable in a criss-cross position on the floor, looking up to where a frustrated Donatello was sitting. Raph pulled himself on top of the table and sat with both hands steadying himself on the counter edges. Leo walked across the room and took a roll of wrappings before returning and kneeling beside his brother, a calm expression on his face.

"I can do it." Donnie said, reaching out for the bandages.

"I know." Leo pulled the wrappings away from Donnie's reach. "But let me handle it."

Their eyes locked before Donnie caved, putting his arm on the chair armrest and leaning his head back as Leo took it in his hold. As he steadily began to cleanse the wound and wrap it once more, a heavy silence filled the lab. Raph's legs kicked from the table edge with a small rhythm, and Mikey began to tap against the ground with his fingers.

"I'm sorry, Donnie." Michelangelo suddenly said, drawing his legs closer to himself.

The purple-clad brother raised his head from the headrest and looked down. He gave a small sigh under his breath before offering a small smile. "It's alright Mikey. I know."

"Someday soon things will be back to normal, okay?" Leo said, pausing his wrappings to look up at his brother.

"But not today." Raph finished.

Leo nodded in agreement, and Donnie gave a small nod. "I know." He repeated, "Just…" He started, raising his gaze to his brothers. A small silence followed, and all his brothers were looking back at him with saddened faces.

"What?" Leo finally asked.

Donnie shook his head. "Just tired."

Leo and Raph exchanged a glance, and Mikey crawled to his feet. "Once we finish wrapping your arm up, you can rest, alright?" Leo offered, continuing his work.

When Leonardo looked up again, he saw his brother look away. But it didn't stop him from catching the tears in his eyes. Without finishing his arm, he reached out for Donnie's shoulder. "Hey… Donnie it's okay." He said in a soft, assuring voice.

"I-I'm sorry." Donnie sniffled. A small chuckle escaped him, though they could see the sadness lining it. He turned back around and looked down, sniffling. "I'm still such a mess about this whole thing. Shows how tough I am, right?" He half-heartedly joked, using his free arm to wipe his eyes.

Leo didn't say a word as he reached out and pulled his brother in for a hug. Raph slid off the table and both he and Mikey took an extra step forward to wrap their arms around their brothers, trying to give what little comfort they could. "Don't apologize, you dork." Raph muttered. "Even I wouldn't be myself if I went through that."

With a small chuckle, Donnie allowed the tears to escape this time as his brothers engulfed him, and he buried himself in their embraces.