AN: Techno Dawn: Thank you so much for the compliment! I really see Raph that way. And Donnie needed to set things right with his brothers.

Hawkfeather: You're welcome! This is the last chapter. I hope you enjoy it! And thanks for reviewing in such detailed fashion. :D

Nightshadegirl: More exactly, it's Donnie who does, but Donnie knows Mikey's secrets… Will he be able to keep them to himself?

Where Someone Learned His Lesson… Maybe

"I can't believe it! I can't believe it!" Raphael kept repeating, Michelangelo's head in an armlock. "My punching bag! My weights! My towel! My blankets! And…" He used his other arm to smack his orange-clad brother on top of his bowed head. "Spike's bowl! Is nothing sacred to you?"

"Ow!" Michelangelo exclaimed. "Donnie, why?"

"I can't help it, Mikey," Donatello answered sheepishly. "I have to tell the truth, remember?"

"That's quite an impressive list, Mikey," Leonardo commented. "Do I even want to know what you did to me?"

"Noooo, you don't!" Michelangelo exclaimed. "Leooooo, have mercy!"

"I do," Raphael replied far too happily. "Donnie, what pranks did Mikey pull on Leo? Only the ones that we don't already know about, of course."

"Well, there is that time when he messed up the clock of our video recorder, so Leo would record the local news instead of the next episode of Space Heroes…"

"It was you?" Leonardo's eyes gleamed dangerously. "I had to wait two entire days before they rebroadcasted it on another channel!"

"A mere mistake!" Michelangelo protested.

"And that time when he added old hand cream to Leo's choji oil…"

Raphael burst into laughter.

"So that's what happened! This was a good one, Mikey. Leo's face was priceless!"

"Didn't you like it? Your katana gleamed so beautifully!" Michelangelo tried, without much hope.

"I thought the oil had become stale! I threw out the entire pot!"

Leonardo clenched his fists. He asked Raphael in a very calm and polite voice.

"Raph, if you would be so kind…"

"But of course, Leo!" Raphael was still laughing. "He's all yours!"

The red-clad turtle released Michelangelo, who yelped and tried to escape. But Leonardo was ready and he tripped him before pinning him to the floor.

"My katana are off-limits, Mikey," the blue-clad turtle threatened, enunciating every word. "Don't you dare do that again, or I will test their edge on your precious comic books next time."

"No no no no! I won't do it again, I promise!" Michelangelo pleaded. He had no doubt that Leonardo would follow through with his threat.

Donatello chuckled. Michelangelo's secrets were more dangerous to him than his own had been to the purple-clad turtle. It helped that Donatello rarely pranked his brothers, although Raphael hadn't been too happy to learn that the genius and self-appointed repairer of the family coincidentally lacked the necessary equipment for Raphael's urgent repairs when the red-clad turtle had especially annoyed him during training.

Fortunately, Raphael's wrath had been soothed by Donatello's admission that he had secretly regulated their hot water tank so that the red-clad turtle could take a shower a tad colder than the others, just like he liked it. The regulation mechanism was triggered by Raphael's regular kick in the wall when he entered the shower, which had embarrassed the hothead. He hadn't known that Donatello was aware of this particular habit.

Donatello had also owned up to his unhealthy sleeping habits, and learned at the same time that it was hardly a secret.

All in all, he was getting by fine, although he hated the fact that he was compelled to talk. It shamed him all the more to know that he had forced his brothers to experience that feeling.

He looked at Leonardo, who was now mercilessly tickling Michelangelo with Raphael's helpful support, and he chuckled again. Unluckily for him, it caught Raphael's attention. The red-clad turtle grinned threateningly at him, and before Donatello had time to register what was happening, he was pinned to the floor next to Michelangelo, laughing hard.

The situation degenerated quickly into a tickling match, who was abruptly interrupted when Master Splinter cleared his throat. The four turtles on the floor watched their father sheepishly.

The ninja master raised an eyebrow and shook his head.

"There will be no training this evening," he finally said. "I believe that you already got enough exercise."

"Thanks, Master Splinter!" Michelangelo expressed with gratitude.

The orange-clad turtle took the occasion to catch his breath. As soon as Splinter's figure disappeared, he would get back at his brothers with all the might of his tickling fury.

%%%%%

Splinter rejoiced in the fact that Donatello had finally made up with his brothers. His sons were now closer than ever. However, one of them was still worrying him.

At the beginning, he hadn't been surprised that Leonardo avoided meeting his gaze or didn't talk to him if not spoken to. It was obvious that his son was ashamed of what he had done, and Splinter thought that it was only appropriate.

However, as days, then weeks passed and Leonardo still avoided him, spent his whole free time either cleaning or doing homework and didn't seem to enjoy training sessions as much as he used to, the rat father began to suspect that maybe he was hurt deeper than Splinter had intended.

The ninja master had hoped that making up with Donatello would help him find his balance again, but he had been disappointed. One afternoon, as Splinter was drinking his cup of tea alone – Leonardo hadn't joined him since he had owned up to his disobedience – he decided that he had had enough. It was time to take matters in hand.

Splinter sighed with wistfulness. When his sons were younger, they always rushed to him whenever they felt sad or in pain. He had secretly enjoyed tending to their grazes and soothing their children's sorrows. It had been easier then. Or more likely, I have conveniently forgotten all the times I've felt at a loss, he thought wryly.

Splinter stood up and left the dojo in search for Leonardo. In the living room, Donatello, Michelangelo and Raphael were watching a movie about the life of insects.

"Where is your brother?" Splinter inquired.

Donatello, engrossed in the show, didn't register his presence. Michelangelo looked at him unhappily and Raphael answered hesitantly.

"He's in his room."

"I see. Thank you."

Splinter went to Leonardo's bedroom and knocked on the door.

"Thanks Donnie, but I have to do it on my own," Leonardo's reply came from the other side of his door.

"I am not Donatello," Splinter answered softly.

He heard the sound of a chair scraping the floor and the door opened.

"I'm sorry, Sensei," Leonardo said sheepishly, his eyes set on the wall behind Splinter's back. "What can I do for you?"

Splinter sighed inwardly.

"I wish to talk to you. May I come in?"

"Of course," Leonardo answered uneasily.

Splinter entered Leonardo's room and sat on the perfectly made bed. He patted the blankets next to him and his son hesitantly sat down.

"Leonardo. Why aren't you watching TV with your brothers? I didn't ban you from watching every show."

"I have homework to do."

Splinter glanced at the pile of books on Leonardo's desk.

"It is not due until the day after tomorrow."

Leonardo didn't answer. He was busy twisting his wrist wrappings.

Splinter tried another approach.

"And why don't you share tea with me anymore? I miss you."

His son glanced at him with surprise.

"I… I didn't think you would want it."

"Why not?"

Leonardo swallowed hard.

"Because I cannot be trusted. Why would you want to spend time with a son like me?"

Splinter inhaled sharply. Was it how his son really felt?

"Because I love you. You know how much I do, right?"

"I don't deserve it."

Leonardo's answer had been a mere whisper. Splinter felt his heart break. He pulled his son into a tight hug and fought to find the right words.

"That's not the point. You don't have to deserve my love, Leonardo. Besides, it isn't true. Your worth isn't erased because you make mistakes, my son."

Splinter waited while Leonardo was sobbing in his arms, stroking his son's head gently and not caring an iota if his robes were getting soaked. When the blue-clad turtle had calmed down, his father asked him softly.

"Is this also the reason why you have been so withdrawn during our training sessions?"

Leonardo nodded pitifully against his father's chest.

"I didn't think I deserved to enjoy them after what I did."

Splinter shook his head, amazed. He placed a finger under Leonardo's chin and lifted it so that his son would look at him, and talked to him severely.

"Leonardo. I already punished you. You don't punish yourself on top of that. Understood?"

"Yes, Father," Leonardo answered sheepishly.

He used his bandana to wipe his remaining tears before burying his head in his father's robes once more.

"I swear, I would never have done it again, even if you had never known," Leonardo whispered.

Splinter squeezed him softly.

"I believe you, my son."

Later that day, Splinter was watching the test tube containing Donatello's truth serum. It had really made a mess of their lives. Truth could be dangerous.

Splinter hummed. An idea suddenly occurred to him. It would require some training to make sure that it was possible, but the ninja master was fairly confident that it would work.

Maybe he could teach his sons a final lesson before they all moved on.

%%%%%

At the end of the month, the four turtles and their father gathered in the dojo.

"My sons. I am happy to say that your punishments are now over. And yes, Michelangelo, this means that you and Donatello will take your cleaning duties back."

"Such a shame," Michelangelo muttered, causing Raphael to glare at him.

Splinter went on with his lecture.

"You all tried to fix your mistakes to the best of your abilities, and for that, I am proud of you. I hope that you all learned a valuable lesson."

Leonardo nodded, his eyes fixed on him. He had finally forgiven himself, to his father's utter relief.

Raphael rolled his eyes. He was eager to leave the lair again. He loved to scavenge with his father and to play in the sewers tunnels near the lair with his brothers. Couldn't Splinter just be done with his lecture?

Michelangelo was hardly focusing on Splinter's words. He was thinking of his next prank. It wouldn't involve Leonardo's katana or Spike's bowl, that was for sure.

Donatello watched his father with attention. Was he dreaming or were Splinter's eyes twinkling?

"While truth is a foundation of trust, the truth is sometimes better left unsaid," Splinter was going on. "And you should learn that truth should be treated cautiously."

"What do you mean, Sensei?" Leonardo asked.

Splinter opened his hand to reveal the truth serum.

"I will show you."

Under his sons' amazed gazes, he tilted the test tube until one drop of it landed on his palm.

"Sensei, what are you doing?" Donatello exclaimed.

"I'm dropping some of your serum on my palm."

"That's not exactly what I meant."

"It's still the truth. Now I will allow each of you to ask me a single question. Choose wisely."

Michelangelo bounced.

"I know, I know! Who is your favorite son?"

"Mikey!" His brothers exclaimed.

Splinter hid his smile. He had anticipated that question, and his entirely truthful answer was ready. He had even rehearsed it in front of a mirror.

"Michelangelo is my favorite son…"

"Ah! Do you hear that? I'm Sensei's favorite!"

"… for folding origami. Donatello is my favorite son for playing Go. Raphael is my favorite son for watching wrestling competitions. Leonardo is my favorite son for drinking tea."

His four sons looked at him with incredulity.

"It's not an answer!" Michelangelo protested. "You chose activities that the others don't like anyway!"

"It is my answer, and it is true. Now, who wants to ask something?"

Donatello tilted his head.

"Did you read my essay?"

"I read every interesting part of your essay, my son," Splinter answered. That is, the introduction and the conclusion. But he didn't add that part. He could resist the urge to say the whole truth as long as he still said the truth – he had checked it.

Donatello pouted. It wasn't the answer that he had expected.

Raphael was next.

"When are you going to allow us to go to the surface?"

Splinter stifled a chuckle. Another predictable question.

"When I will judge you to be ready. Leonardo, it is your turn."

"How are you managing to select the part of the truth that you want to tell us?"

"I'm using my spiritual training. And I practiced."

His four sons were looking at him in awe, which Splinter quite enjoyed.

"Truth isn't always straightforward. On the contrary, it can be ambiguous or even multiple. I hope you learned that today."

"We certainly did," Donatello mused.

"Now, Donatello, I will ask you to get rid of this serum. It is not to be used again in this lair. Do we agree on that?"

"Hai, Sensei," the four turtles answered.

"I will dispose of it immediately," Donatello said, extending his hand to take the test tube from his father's hand. Of course, he would still remember the formula. But he didn't think that he would use it ever again. At least, it was highly unlikely.

"Then you may go."

"It's a pity we could only ask one question," Michelangelo sighed while leaving the dojo. "I had many other ideas! Like, how come he doesn't use more soap when he takes a shower? With all his hair."

"Mikey!" Leonardo exclaimed.

Splinter was still within earshot. He smiled.

"That's because I regularly lick it to keep it clean," he said with solemnity.

His sons exclaimed in disgust.

"I really didn't want to know that," Leonardo complained, running for his life with his brothers on his heels for fear of learning other embarrassing details about their father's routine.

Alone in the dojo, Splinter laughed.

%%%%%

Epilogue

Years later, Leonardo is kneeling next to Donatello with guilt written all over his face.

The purple-clad turtle is still lying on the dojo floor, his pain slowly receding. Raphael and Michelangelo are at his side too, with April and Master Splinter not far behind.

Karai has just departed, her words of revenge still hanging in the air. Leonardo is concerned about her, but it can wait. Right now, he needs to apologize to his brother, who has just woken up.

"Donnie, I'm so sorry. I should have told you guys what I was up to."

What he was up to, namely go after Shredder's possessions with Karai behind Splinter's back. That disastrous scheme resulted in Donatello being hurt in a chemicals factory explosion while he was searching for Leonardo with Raphael and Michelangelo.

Donatello looks at him with exasperation and love.

"Yes, you should have," he says.

Then he pulls his temporarily black-clad brother into a hug, wincing because he's still hurting from the impact.

"I forgive you. You're our brother, and brothers forgive each other," he whispers in Leonardo's ear, knowing that he will remember.

Leonardo does, and he smiles at the words he offered Donatello all those years ago.

The End

%%%%%

Author's Note: And the story is over! It was fun to write, even if it was longer than I usually intended. *stifles the small voice who is trying to tell that it was supposed to be a quick one shot*

The epilogue was inspired by the Broken Foot episode of the 2012 cartoon.

Thanks again to every person who showed an interest in this story! Without your reviews, favs and follows, I would never have been able to write half as fast as I did. You are wonderful.