Chapter 4 - Found

Somewhere in the back of his mind he never really believed that Spike was dead. It's something he doesn't even feel comfortable thinking about.

So when rumors about another mutated turtle rise around the streets, Raphael can't deny the tiny bit of hope crawling up inside of him.

He keeps it around as Donatello tells them how unlikely the chances of another one like them are and in the same city to top it off. It sparks inside him when Micky starts to imagine tales based on the stranger and he sure doesn't let it down when Leonardo makes fun of their youngest brother.

Soon there's words out that the mysterious mutant is working for the Shredder and just like that all the hope is snuffed out. There's just no way that his former pet would ever work for some bad guy like that.

Maybe it's time to finally come clean with the fact that his friend is indeed dead and not coming back. The days get darker for Raphael. He spends the day letting out his frustration on his punching bag and the night thinking back like some old chump.

One night the four of them are out patrolling. They're drawn to a warehouse with several big black vans parked in front of the broken entrance suspiciously and upon entering all of them freeze in their tracks.

The rumored turtle is there. It's slightly bigger than him and his brothers, his skin a light brown color, while the carapace is green and jagged. Wrapped around the head is a darkish headband and his knees and elbows are protected by thick leather. One hand holds onto a sword, while the other is equipped with a sick mimic of the very claws the Shredder possesses.

The other growls at them then charges. They manage to dodge easily and he runs into the wall head on. Inside the warehouse are a few purple dragons snatching up electronics. They look at the turtles with something akin of fear in their eyes.

His brothers begin to battle the gang members, while Raphael is still standing in the same spot he did minutes ago, staring at the crumbled form of the newest addition to Shredder's personal army.

"Where does Shredder get all these ugly mutants anyways?" Mikey laughs at his own joke before even finishing it. "The internet?"

"Damnit, Micky! Can't you be serious for just a second!?" Donatello growls at him and hits the youngster over the head with his staff.

"Could you keep your head in the game guys?!" The command barked out by Leonardo gets the two of them back in line without arguing.

The sound of the ongoing battle keeps raging on behind him. The red-clad doesn't think about the possibility of someone stabbing him into the back, while he isn't looking. He doesn't even consider helping out his brothers.

All he can do is keep all his attention on the crumbled enemy before him who stares back up at him angrily. He tells himself to stop this nonsense right now, to not let the bubble of hope surface just to pop again, but he can't help it.

The eyes of the other mutant turtle, the very pattern on his shell and even the slightly lethargic movements seem so terrible familiar. The scar on the side of his shell is a straight-forward slap in the face.

"Spike?" Without thinking about it he moves closer to the other, suddenly feeling like he should help his long-lost friend up right away. He outstretches his hand in invitation.

Raphael is not prepared for the heavy pull on his wrist and the slam of another body on top of his as he is pinned to the floor. Slash looks down at him angrily, the claws right at his throat. His legs are immobilized, his arms put in a strong hold and the teenager feels the rise of panic in the pit of his stomach.

"Don't you remember me?" The growl ripping from the other's mouth makes him shiver inwardly. The sharp blade nicks his neck, but he knows better than trying to retract it back into his shell along with his head.

"It's me. Raphael." Something like recognition flashes across Slash's face, the corners of his beak tilting down just the slightest bit, but it's lost again after a second. Raph isn't even sure if he saw it.

"Remember that one time when we snuck out of the sewers together so I could show you the topside world?" There's a distinct feeling that he has to keep talking to get through to his attacker.

"The time I took you into the bath tub with me?" His voice is wavering as the knife presses in a little harder. "Heck, all those times I bathed you because your shell wasn't supposed to get wet again just then?" The pressure is gone for a moment and then his head is slammed into the wall behind him with the force of a huge hand wrapped around his neck.

"Come on Spike…It's me, Raph." The hand around his neck tightens and then Slash leans into the other turtle, bringing sharp teeth dangerously close to the other's neck. Raphael's not moving away in any way. This is probably the only chance he will even get to try to talk some sense into the other.

"You gotta remember…" The words are rushed and desperate. Green eyes are tearing up from the lack of oxygen. The other mutant stares down at him with black eyes.

Hot breath flows over his face suddenly, but he doesn't dare to close his eyes. A soft tremble runs through his body, but he ignores it in favor of watching Slash intently.

It's a sight to withhold when Micky finally finds Raphael. He is pressed up against the floor with giant turtle choking his neck, a small trail of blood trailing down.

"Raph!" Three pairs of footsteps close in on their location and the grip around his neck tightens again when Leonardo presses his sword into Slash's back. "Let go of him at once."

"Don't!" The red-clad manages to wince out. The grip around his hands loose enough that he manages to slip them out and bring them down around Spike's shoulders, hugging him closer.

"It's gonna be okay." His voice is soft but at the same time rough with emotions.

Leo finally drops his weapon as the rough beak is nuzzling against his brother's emerald cheek lovingly. "'Atta boy."

When Spike begins to chomp down on his red bandana he can't stop the rough chuckle from escaping.