This is the final chapter. And I can tell you, you have no idea how glad I am for all the reviews through the story. A big thank you to all who have followed. I wrote this chapter while listening to Evanescene "My Immortal". And as always...

Enjoy...

The light slowly found its way through the corners of a pair of closed eyes. Raphael slowly started stirring, letting out a low moan of pain. His head was throbbing and it felt like he had been smashed into a million pieces. Opening his eyes seemed harder than he had thought. It was as if every time he tried, the light and the pain pushed them close again.

'Hey, he's waking up,' he could hear something. It sounded like it was far away, but coming closer. Finally, he got his eyes somewhat open and tried to fight the urge to shut them. He could see a figure over him, looking down at him. It was still blurry, but he could somewhat notice the colors of the figure.

"Mikey…?" he said in a hoarse whisper, trying to move his body to get up in a sitting position. However, before he could even lift his body from the couch, the pain shot through him and blackened his vision for a second.

Michelangelo placed a hand on his plastron, but quickly realized that he had no need to try to keep his brother laid down - gravity itself was doing fine. He couldn't help but smile at his brother's effort to sit. It was so typical Raph.

"Yo, take it easy," he tried to calm his brother, "We're not going anywhere."

The words made Raph less eager to get up. It somehow told him, that lying down didn't have to mean anything bad - or, that was until Mikey started babbling again.

"Unless I have to go to the bathroom, or get something to eat, or-"

"Mike?" Raph interrupted, looking up at the young turtle. He could see everything more clearly now, and could finally see is brother's face. A playful smile was attached to Mikey's features, one that Raphael had really been missing.

"Shut up."

Mikey's smile grew larger, giving him a thumb's up and the lair grew silent.

"You need to go to the bathroom?"

With a growl, Raph covered his face with a hand, not even trying to come up with a reply to Mikey.

Mike chuckled to himself, placing his hands on Raph's arm.

"Aww, c'mon bro, admit it - you missed me," Mikey looked down at him with an angelic smile, trying to look as innocent as possible.

Raph drew the hand away from his eyes, sending his brother a somewhat irritated look. But it quickly softened.

"Yeah," he replied, his voice getting stronger, "I did miss ya." He looked around the lair, finding it empty.

"Where… where's Don and Master Splinter?"

Mikey's smile grew wider. If it grew any bigger, it was going to be too large for his head. But it didn't seem to matter to the orange masked ninja. He was just happy to see his brother awake.

"Don is out getting the others," he answered, not one moment removing his hands from his brother, "Man, you scared us half to death, Raph. When we found you and Leo, we-" Raphael's face made Mikey stop.

"Raph?"

"I'm sorry," Raph turned his face away, shutting his eyes tightly, "I - I know I'm to blame for all this." His body was shaking. The mentioning of his brother's name made the reality push its way to him, making him remember every detail from the night. The sound of gun firing was the worst. Why couldn't he have saved Leo?

"Raph, listen…" Mikey tried, but his words didn't make it to Raph, he could feel it. And it hurt. Seeing his brother so worn out was almost worse than Leo thinking, he didn't deserve to live. Raph seemed so - small suddenly. Perhaps it was the lack of anger. Leonardo had taken the blame, just like he always did, but Raph… it wasn't supposed to be like this. His grab around Raph's arm grew stronger, as to trying and get the turtle's attention.

Raph pushed himself upwards, holding his breath to try to fight the pain that screamed for him to lie down again - but he couldn't. Lying down on the couch made him feel vulnerable.

Mikey helped his brother up, knowing that he wouldn't be able to push him down again. And it would have seemed wrong to hold him down against his will, especially now. He could see the tears glistening in his brothers eyes and as they ran down his face.

"It's my fault he's dead, you know that," Raphael, clunged to his knees, holding them up against his plastron.

Mikey tried to swallow the large knob sitting in his throat, but it was stuck. Raph didn't know that Leo was alive…

"I need to tell you something…"

"I don't wanna hear it," Raph whispered, placing his forehead on the knees. He couldn't stand the thought of knowing what condition, they had found Leo in. Especially not, if it meant that his brother hadn't died immediately, that he had been lying on the red carpet suffering. How long could he have been lying there? And without crying out in pain. Wouldn't he have heard?

Or perhaps the Shredder had mutilated his body afterwards in a sickening attempt to satisfy his sadistic behavior. Cut out his guts to taste his brother's blood. But then, why hadn't he killed him too?

"Please Raph," Mikey said in a soft voice, holding around his brother to comfort him. A hand slowly crept up to take a hold on Mikey's arm, as Raph pushed himself closer to the turtle holding him.

All Michelangelo could do, was listening to the sobs coming now and then. He had lost the words, he was going to say, he had lost the firm grip around himself, that he had thought was gained. He wasn't tough enough to do this. He was loosing it, as a tear fought its way to the surface.

As he heard footsteps behind him, he slowly let go of the older turtle, letting Raph see who was coming. Raph looked up, speechless. His heart almost stopped beating, as Leo stood not far away from him with Splinter right by his side.

"No…" Raph whispered, regaining his breath. It couldn't be true, he was dreaming. Leo, Splinter, Mikey, they were all just familiar faces in a weird dream. Maybe he was dead. Death seemed a lot like living - perhaps a little too much…

"Raph, it's alright," Leo smiled, taking a few steps closer to the couch.

Raphael shut his eyes. If this was real, and not just some wicked dream, he should be able to touch him, right? With great effort, he pushed himself off the couch to stand. His legs were trembling, like they would break under him and leave him on the floor.

No, not now. Raphael took a step closer Leo. And then another, until his legs couldn't carry his weight anymore. Just as he was about to sink to the floor, Leonardo grabbed him. Raphael swung his arms around his brother's neck and burried his face in the green skin on the neck. Leo could feel the tears run down his plastron.

"I'm sorry, Leo," Raph sobbed, clunging to his brother. He had been too close to losing him this time. Way too close, but he wouldn't let it happen again.

Leo slowly got Raph back to sit on the couch and sat beside him. He wouldn't say it out loud, but his legs were feeling like jelly.

"Raph," he sighed, dragging his brother away from his neck to look him in the eyes, "If anyone is to blame for all this - it is Shredder. Not me and definitely not you."

Raphael's eyes lightened and a weak smile spread on his face, as he wiped a tear away. He felt a little embarrassed by crying, but - Leo was crying too. Or, he could see one tear, but it was still crying.

"It's a Kodak moment," Don's voice replied and made them all turn to look at him. He stepped closer with the feline beside him, and sat down on the table next to the couch. He placed a hand on Raph's shoulder, knowing that his brother would be alright.

"I like you to meet the one that saved us," Don smiled, gesturing to the cat, "This…"

The winged cat stepped closer, sending Raphael a warm smile. She had been worried about him too. Though she hadn't been there for long, she felt at home. And it would hopefully stay that way. Splinter stepped up to the couch too, as the six of them now stood united - like a family.

"…is Angel…"

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

I can't believe so many guessed her name (okay, it wasn't that original, I admit). So, this is only the end of the beginning, as people say. Now that the story has been greeted so warmly, I have decided to keep on. This is the first part of the "Guardian Angel" series. I'm looking forward to continue, and hope that you will all give the future stories a chance too.

Sniff I love you guys...