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Casey urges Raph to help him solve the puzzle, but the red banded turtle and his oldest brother are locked in a mystery of their own.\nChapter Pairing: Raph/Mikey, Raph/Don, Raph/Leo/Raph[i][/i]", "description_bbcode_parsed": "Word Count: 4,715
Rating: NC-17 TCest OT4, language, violence, adult concepts
Summary: Young, healthy males throughout New York City are dying in a mysterious manner. Casey urges Raph to help him solve the puzzle, but the red banded turtle and his oldest brother are locked in a mystery of their own.
Chapter Pairing: Raph/Mikey, Raph/Don, Raph/Leo/Raph", "writing": "\tThe physical act of lifting weights did more for Raphael than just hone his muscles; it also worked to relieve many of his mental burdens.\n\n\tAs his body strained with exertion, his thoughts became more clear, less bogged down by the onslaught of his wildly shifting emotions. His mental center swung away from his reaction to external stimuli, and moved towards the analysis of them instead.\n\n\tAfter his talk with Mikey, Raph had fallen asleep thinking about Leo and had dreamt of him. In his dream, Leo had not run away from Raph’s roof top approach, but had instead continued to look at his brother with the same intense desire that Raph had imagined he’d seen on Leo’s face.\n\n\tWhen Raph reached for him, Leo had suddenly turned into a panther, snarling and slashing at the younger turtle. Each cut excited Raph further and he’d shoved Leo down, working his way between the powerfully kicking legs and swishing tail.\n\n\tThe rain fell all around them but left them untouched, as though they were the center of some domed enclosure. Breathing hard, Raph had looked down to find that the body under him was Leo’s again, but his head was completely covered by a blue hood. In his hands were his twin katanas and he’d used them to slice at Raph, each wound forcing blood into the hot headed turtle’s already swollen cock.\n\n\tGroaning with need, Raph had begun to push into Leo when he suddenly snapped awake, his erection standing tall and pulsing painfully. His action had awakened Mikey, who despite his grogginess had assessed the situation expertly.\n\n\tWithout a word, Mikey had climbed atop Raph and lowered himself onto his brother’s cock. Riding him vigorously, Mikey had given Raph a much needed release, kissed him, and then rolled back onto the bed next to his brother. Neither had said a thing throughout, being close enough to know it wasn’t necessary. Falling back asleep was just a matter of a few minutes, and Raph passed the rest of the night with no further dreams.\n\n\tRaph had awakened the next morning not with thoughts of Leo and their problems, but with a vague idea starting to form about the murders. It had percolated in his brain during practice; he and his brothers knew the streets of New York City better than even the police did, and he wondered if there was some clue in where each of the victims was found.\n\n\tHastily setting the weight bar into place, Raph jumped up from the bench, grabbing a dry towel as he left the dojo. Patting the sweat from his body, Raph once more headed towards Don’s sanctuary in search of answers.\n\n\tAs he figured, Don was inside, typing away on his computer. After Raph entered the lab, he pushed the door closed and walked over to where his brother was sitting.\n\n\tDon glanced at the door and then up at his brother. “Something I can help you with?”\n\n\t“Yeah,” Raph said, grabbing a stool and pulling it over. “Can ya’ look some stuff up for me and keep it ta yourself?”\n\n\t“That depends,” Don said. “Are you going to use the information to do something insanely dangerous?”\n\n\t“No,” Raph answered with a touch of annoyance. “I just wanna satisfy my curiosity about something.”\n\n\t“Okay then, what do you need?” Don asked.\n\n\t“Can ya’ find the addresses where each of those men was murdered?” Raph asked. “Then can ya’ pull up a city map and put some kinda marker on each address?”\n\n\t“Looking for a pattern?” Don was already typing, his fingers a blur on his custom keyboard.\n\n\t“It’s been bugging me,” Raph admitted. “We’ve been all over that area where those men were killed and it dawned on me that they ain’t all that far apart. I’m wondering if there’s something about those buildings or the area in general that makes it important ta the murderer.”\n\n\t“Profiling the crime scene?” Don asked. “I’m guessing that you learned as much as you could about the victims from the reports you looked at yesterday.”\n\n\t“The victims are all the same type, Donny. Big guys, all in good shape, all damn capable of defending themselves against an attacker. One of ‘em was even an amateur mixed martial artist. It don’t make sense that they’d get themselves shoved from a tall building without putting up a fight,” Raph said.\n\n\t“So maybe your guess that the killer knocks them out isn’t so far off, only the person uses some kind of drug instead of brute force,” Don said, concentrating on plugging in each of the addresses he’d found.\n\n\t“That still don’t add up,” Raph argued. “Almost all of them were seen with women and jokes aside, I ain’t met one that could toss a two-hundred pound man around like a sack of potatoes.”\n\n\t“How about a team?” Don asked. “A man and woman working together. Or a man working with a couple of women.”\n\n\t“For what reason? That kinda thing happens plenty of times but the motive is usually robbery and they don’t resort ta murder,” Raph said. “They sure as hell pick an easier target than a guy who can punch through a brick wall.”\n\n\t“Oh shell,” Don said in a quick exhale, staring at his computer screen. “There is a pattern.”\n\n\tHe turned the monitor so that Raph could see the map he’d created. For each location where one of the murders had been committed Don had placed a flashing yellow dot. Touching a key, the dots lifted away from the street map, hovering above the spot that each represented. When Don rotated the view, the dots formed a three dimensional image that looked exactly like a staircase.\n\n\tEyes narrowed in concentration, Raph asked, “Can ya’ label those dots with numbers representing the first through last kills?”\n\n\t“Sure.” Don pressed a couple of keys and the numbers one through five popped up on top of each yellow dot.\n\n\t“Looks like stairs, with the one being at the top,” Raph said. \n\n\t“Or a very precise zigzag pattern,” Don offered, his head tilted slightly as he contemplated the onscreen model.\n\n\t“So if the killer stays on this pattern, can ya’ predict where they’ll go next?” Raph asked.\n\n\tDon’s fingers hovered over the keyboard as he eyed Raph. “You know the police and probably more than a few reporters have figured out this pattern too, right?”\n\n\t“For shits and giggles, Don,” Raph said.\n\n\tMaintaining a skeptical expression, Don added a sixth yellow dot to the pattern and superimposed it over the city map. When he returned the map to a street view, Raph inhaled sharply.\n\n\t“That’s where I was last night,” Raph said, leaning in. “No wonder I felt like I was being watched.”\n\n\t“What was that?” Don demanded tersely.\n\n\t“Don’t get your shell in a bunch,” Raph said. “I was just running ta burn off some steam and I must have subconsciously headed back towards the last crime scene. After a while I got that feeling on the back of my neck like someone was tracking me. That’s why I came home early.”\n\n\tLeaving out the part where he thought he’d seen Leo was instinctual. Raph had already blown it off as a figment of his imagination when he was talking to Mikey and he wasn’t in the mood to hear Don analyze why that particular manifestation had looked like their oldest brother.\n\n\t“You were smart to get away from there,” Don said. “The cops probably have the entire area staked out and we certainly don’t need for any of us to be seen while they’re searching for a murderer.”\n\n\t“Do ya’ think I’m an amateur, Donny?” Raph asked impatiently. “I’ve had a lot of practice staying out of sight; from the cops, the Foot, the Dragons, Bishop – shell, seems like all I do is hide in the shadows. Next thing ya’ know I’ll turn into another fucking Leo.”\n\n\tHe hadn’t meant to bring Leo’s name into the conversation since he was pretty sure both Don and Mikey thought Raph was obsessing over him. Raph couldn’t help the fact that they were all so intertwined into each other’s lives and that Leo played a more prominent role because he was their leader.\n\n\t[i]“And because I want ta fuck him,” [/i]said the hard to ignore little voice in Raph’s head.\n\n\t“No I do not think you’re an amateur,” Don said. “I think you’re hard headed and a trifle self-involved. The point I was trying to make was that we all need to avoid that part of the city. I should talk to Leo about that so he doesn’t arrange for us to patrol anywhere near the area shown in this pattern.”\n\n\tRaph didn’t respond to that immediately, his mind was too busy toying with an idea. It finally dawned on him that Don was staring at him expectantly.\n\n\t“Yeah,” Raph said, offering a non-committal agreement.\n\n\tDon’s eyes narrowed. “That wasn’t very convincing. You aren’t planning to do anything foolish are you?”\n\n\t“Damn Donny, stop clucking over me like a mother hen,” Raph said in exasperation. “I was just remembering that I was supposed ta do something with Casey tonight. I need ta call that bone head and tell him we need ta meet in another section of the city.”\n\n\t“You don’t think Leo will ban us from going topside after he finds out about this?” Don asked, gesturing towards the onscreen map.\n\n\t“No, I don’t think he’ll ground us,” Raph said as he slipped off the stool and leaned over his brother. “We don’t stop patrolling when the Foot are out looking for us or when we know Bishop’s up ta something, doesn’t make sense that we’d stop over some killer that ain’t got nothing ta do with us.”\n\n\t“What are you doing?” Don asked as Raph gripped the back of his chair and buried his face in Don’s neck.\n\n\t“You’re the genius,” Raph husked, moving his lips to within an inch of Don’s. “Figure it out.”\n\n\tThe kiss was barely more than a promise when a loud “harrumph” forced them apart, as neither had heard the door open. Raph looked over his shoulder and Don leaned to the side, both simultaneously catching sight of Master Splinter.\n\n\tWhen he had their attention, Master Splinter lifted his portable radio and said, “Donatello, this device is hungry again.”\n\n\t“Hang on sensei, I’ll get some fresh batteries,” Don said, rolling away from Raph, who straightened up and turned towards their father.\n\n\t“Raphael, I am happy to hear that you intend to use caution during your excursions with Mr. Jones,” Master Splinter said, making it apparent that he’d heard at least part of the brother’s conversation. “A murderer of this type is a deadly and unpredictable malignancy and while it is imperative that he be destroyed as soon as possible, it is not for us to do. The danger to our family is twofold; on one side is a warped and sick mind and on the other is a police force dedicated to catching him.\n\n\t“We cannot afford to attract their attention. This is not simply a matter of ensuring our secrets; if the police become curious about us it would distract them from their mission. It would not serve anyone well for you to become involved in this investigation.”\n\n\t“But what if the cops can’t catch him?” Raph asked. “There’s always a chance that we could run across the guy by accident during our regular patrols.”\n\n\t“You will of course not turn a blind eye to such a chance,” Master Splinter said, placing the radio in Don’s outstretched hand. “What I ask is that you do not force the opportunity to occur. I shall inform Leonardo of the dangers and relay to him my wishes in the matter.”\n\n\t“I hear ya’ sensei,” Raph said, watching as Don replaced the dead batteries with fresh ones.\n\n\tDon returned the radio to his father and tossed the used batteries into a box before returning to his seat.\n\n\t“Thank you, Donatello,” Master Splinter said, glancing at both of his sons before leaving.\n\n\tThe purple banded turtle was staring at Raph as their father disappeared from sight. Raph looked over at him, his face a neutral mask.\n\n\t“What?” Raph asked.\n\n\t“Whenever you say ‘I hear you’ it means you aren’t committing yourself to anything,” Don said.\n\n\t“Ya’ think ya’ got me all figured out, don’t ya’ Donny?” Raph asked as he lifted an eye ridge.\n\n\tDon shook his head. “I’ve heard that before too. It usually precedes you getting into trouble.”\n\n\t“Nah, I’m the picture of innocence,” Raph said as he turned towards the door.\n\n\t“Hey,” Don called after him. “Weren’t you about to thank me for helping you with that map?”\n\n\tRaph was already out of the lab, but he spun around and leaned in, bracing himself on the door jamb.\n\n\t“Keep it warm for me,” Raph said with a cocky grin. “I gotta make that call ta my man Casey and then I’ll be back.”\n\n\tDon snorted. “Don’t take too long or I’ll start working on another project.”\n\n\tRaph took a quick look around the lair, easily locating the other members of the family. Master Splinter and Leo were in deep discussion, no doubt about him, and Mikey was ostensibly playing a video game but probably eavesdropping as well.\n\n\tWalking over to the elevator as nonchalantly as possible, Raph kept his eyes on the doors as they slid open. Only after they began to close behind him did he turn to see if anyone was watching him. Fortunately, he spent a lot of time in the garage working on his bike, so none of his family appeared to pay him the least bit of attention.\n\n\tAs soon as he was in the garage, Raph pulled out his shell cell and punched in Casey’s number. The phone rang several times before being picked up by the answering machine.\n\n\t[i]“I ain’t here right now, leave a message,” [/i]the device requested.\n\n\t“Casey! Answer your fucking phone!” Raph shouted, knowing his friend was probably asleep. “Pick it up!”\n\n\tRaph heard a scratching sound, followed by a bang, and then his friend’s voice. [i]“This better be good,” [/i]Casey said, his tone raspy.\n\n\t“Ya’ gotta meet me tonight,” Raph told him, “on the roof of that building across from the liquor store where we saw the Dragons.”\n\n\t[i]“Did ya’ hear something?” [/i]Casey asked, his voice a bit clearer. [i]“Are they gonna try ta hit it again?”\n[/i]\n\t“I’ll tell ya’ when ya’ get there,” Raph said. “Eleven o’clock work for ya’?”\n\n\t“Sounds good,” Casey said and then hung up.\n\n\tRaph was smiling as he put his cell phone away. Having an adventure to look forward to always made him feel more alive, especially if that adventure might lead to him ridding the city of a sicko killer.\n\n\tThe thrill of anticipation reminded him that he’d gotten Don all primed and ready to go for a ride on Raph’s rocket. Chuckling to himself, Raph headed back down to the lair so as not to keep the genius waiting any longer.\n\n~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~\n\n\tLeo hadn’t been visible much during the rest of the day and that suited Raph just fine. When his oldest brother was preoccupied by something, it was a lot easier for Raph to do his own thing, like leaving the lair to meet up with Casey.\n\n\tRaph exited the lair via the tunnel entrance, fairly sure that no one had even noticed. He was only a few yards in when Leo suddenly stepped out of the shadows to block his path.\n\n\tThey stared at each other for a couple of minutes, neither saying anything. If the fact that Leo had been lying in wait for him wasn’t enough of a clue that Raph’s big brother had something on his mind, the silent scrutiny sure as shell gave it away.\n\n\tThe idea that Leo thought simply staring Raph down was enough to make him blurt things out struck the larger turtle as funny. His lips curled upwards and he saw a quick flash come and go in Leo’s amber eyes.\n\n\t“I know that you saw me speaking to Master Splinter,” Leo said by way of an opening gambit.\n\n\tRaph shrugged. “So what? You’re always talking ta him.”\n\n\t“Then you know he relayed to me his concerns about our getting tangled into the middle of a police investigation,” Leo said.\n\n\t“And ya’ know he didn’t forbid us from going topside,” Raph said. “What’s your damage?”\n\n\tLeo was too good at interrogation to give away his frustrations by taking a deep breath, but Raph could see him mentally do so. Almost subconsciously Raph shifted his stance into something more defensive.\n\n\tThe mood in the tunnel changed imperceptibly as Leo responded to Raph’s physical cue. His shoulders pulled back slightly and his arms were no longer relaxed against his sides.\n\n\t“The more that I think about this, the less I like the idea of your going out to meet Casey,” Leo said, his voice still even. “Don told me the two of you discovered a pattern in that murderer’s kills. He also admitted that your interest in it makes him uncomfortable.”\n\n\t“It ain’t like he didn’t warn me he was gonna tell ya’ those things,” Raph said.\n\n\t“But maybe you thought sexing him up would be a good way to make him forget about actually doing so,” Leo responded.\n\n\tRaph felt his face heat up and his stomach start to churn with angry bile. “I don’t fuck my brothers as a way ta manipulate them,” he said between gritted teeth. “Don knows I don’t play like that and I thought ya’ would at least have enough respect for me not ta think that either.”\n\n\tLeo looked disconcerted. “I shouldn’t have worded it that way.” \n\n\t“You’re right, ya’ shouldn’t have,” Raph said, pushing past his brother.\n\n\t“Raph wait,” Leo said as he caught Raph’s arm. When Raph spun around, Leo released him. “I didn’t come out here to get into an argument.”\n\n\t“Could have fooled me,” Raph snapped.\n\n\t“Can you at least grant me my concern?” Leo asked. “I know that your protective instincts extend beyond the walls of the lair and I need to know you won’t get involved in a case the police are actively investigating.”\n\n\t“Ya’ talked ta Master Splinter,” Raph said. “What did he tell ya’?”\n\n\t“He seemed to think you understood that you should stay away from this thing,” Leo said.\n\n\tRaph laughed once, harshly. “But ya’ think otherwise, right Leo? Ya’ think I’m gonna blow off all the warnings and stick my face right in the middle of it.”\n\n\t“Tell me you won’t,” Leo said softly. His gaze sent a shiver down Raph’s spine. “Tell me straight out you’ll stay away from the crime scenes. Promise me.”\n\n\t“No,” Raph said, moving closer to Leo. “I ain’t gonna do that. Ya’ wanna know why? ‘Cause ya’ shouldn’t have ta ask me ta watch my own ass. Ya’ should have enough faith in me ta know I can do that without a babysitter.”\n\n\t“Why does this have to be about how you think I perceive you?” Leo asked. “I don’t question your abilities Raph, but sometimes I do question your judgment.”\n\n\t“’Cause that’s your job ain’t it Splinter Junior?” Raph mocked lightly. “You’re supposed ta know our weaknesses and make adjustments for them. Ya’ knew from Don that I was planning to go out ta meet Casey tonight, but ya’ waited until I was leaving ta jump me about it. Why is that?”\n\n\tFor a moment Raph thought that Leo wouldn’t answer the question and that made him even more curious. The usual pattern for confrontations of this type was for Leo to finally order Raph to stay home and for Raph to tell him to go to hell.\n\n\tLeo’s reaction to Raph’s ridicule was thoughtful rather than defensive. Raph’s hands relaxed slightly as he waited to find out Leo’s real motivation for ambushing him in the tunnels.\n\n\t“I wanted to talk to you,” Leo said. “I didn’t want you to leave the lair tonight because I was hoping we could find a place to be alone and work some things out.”\n\n\tThe anger in Raph’s belly turned to butterflies; his gold eyes unwavering as they focused on Leo.\n\n\tTaking another step nearer, Raph wasn’t completely surprised when Leo held his ground. Pulse quickening, Raph asked, “What did ya’ want ta work out?”\n\n\t“This rift between us,” Leo answered, lifting his head enough to maintain eye contact with his taller brother. “We both know what we have is good, but it’s not good enough.”\n\n\t“So make it better,” Raph said, his voice husky. “Talking ain’t the way ta solve this.”\n\n\tThe brothers were separated by only a couple of feet and Leo covered that distance in less than a tenth of a second, his speed taking Raph’s breath away. Their plastrons touched but neither lifted a hand, merely standing against each other as they spoke with their eyes.\n\n\tWhen Leo’s head tilted back slightly, Raph’s lips twitched and he lowered his mouth until it connected with his brother’s. For a moment they held that pose, just their lips pressed together as they gazed at one another.\n\n\tThen Leo’s eyelids quivered and slid closed as he pushed harder on his brother’s mouth. Raph responded immediately, grasping the edges of Leo’s shell and pulling the blue banded turtle flush against his body.\n\n\tA familiar aching need coursed through Raph’s veins, a rich fire that was unlike anything he felt with his other two brothers. Somehow he knew it was reciprocated, especially when Leo churred and grabbed a double handful of Raph’s belt.\n\n\tThey pulled and pushed at each other, mouths separating with heady gasps and coming together again, tongues twisting and fighting for dominance. Raph couldn’t recall how his feet had left the ground when he suddenly landed hard on his carapace with Leo on top of him.\n\n\tLeo’s hand circled the back of Raph’s neck, keeping his brother’s mouth locked against his own, while his free hand caressed Raph’s bare hip. With a grunt, Leo yanked one of Raph’s sais free and tossed it aside, sliding his hand beneath Raph’s belt until it came into contact with the knot that held it in place.\n\n\tAs Leo worked the knot free, Raph reached between them and quickly unfastened Leo’s, sliding the sheaths from his back. When Raph’s belt came free, Leo broke the kiss to stare down at his brother, desire flashing brightly in his amber eyes.\n\n\tRaph’s hand flashed upwards, curling over the back of Leo’s head so that he could yank his brother’s mouth back down to his. They were both churring now, their bodies squirming against each other’s. \n\n\tLeo pressed a knee between Raph’s legs, rubbing his groin against his brother’s. Raph quivered, his arousal growing, as a primal need to sink his meaty flesh into a warm body pulled a feral growl from his diaphragm.\n\n\tGripping Leo’s shoulders tightly, Raph shoved his brother to the side, rolling with him as Leo lost his perch and landed on his carapace. Their mouths separated and Leo’s eyes widened as he felt Raph shove both of his legs between the older turtle’s thighs.\n\n\tWhen Raph tried to capture his mouth once more, Leo turned his head aside. His gasp was loud as Raph bit his neck, teeth clinging to flesh as Raph’s hand once more disappeared between them.\n\n\tSliding a rough palm across Leo’s bulge, Raph shifted his aim lower, his fingers questing for the hot entrance he so desperately craved. His mind didn’t register Leo’s grunt of displeasure, taking the sound to mean that his brother wanted more.\n\n\tOne of Leo’s legs lifted so that he could bring his foot up against Raph’s hip and as soon as he made contact, he kicked, hard. The move toppled Raph, sending him flying to crash into the nearby wall.\n\n\tHe started forward quickly, wanting nothing more than to regain his place on top of his brother, but Leo had already jumped to his feet and backed away. Slowly standing, Raph stared at his brother, seeing his hunger reflected in Leo’s eyes along with the same heavy confusion.\n\n\tThey were both panting and needy, but neither moved. It was all Raph could do to hold still, but he could see Leo’s hands were balled into fists, his entire demeanor giving off as loud a ‘no’ as his earlier actions had all but shouted ‘yes’.\n\n\t“Why’d ya’ stop?” Raph asked between heavy breaths.\n\n\t“It’s no good, we can’t be free of this,” Leo told him, his voice both deep and pained.\n\n\tRaph could feel his anger returning and pushed it down, desperate to understand what was happening between them.\n\n\tIn an almost pleading tone, Raph asked, “Can’t ya’ just let go? Ya’ don’t have ta be in control all of the time, Leo. Let me show ya’ how we can make this work. Come on bro’, don’t go cold on me, just let go.”\n\n\t“I can’t do that; you don’t understand,” Leo said, his distress clear. “If you spend a lifetime building a wall to hide your feelings from enemies, the wall can’t have cracks in it and it can’t go up and down on a whim.”\n\n\t“That’s the fucking problem,” Raph grumbled. “Ya’ got a damn wall between us.”\n\n\t“And what about yours? Why do I have to relinquish who I am in order for this to work?” Leo demanded. “You can drop the macho routine when we’re alone.”\n\n\t“I ain’t acting, Leo,” Raph all but shouted. “This is who I am. Why is that so hard for ya’ ta understand? Fuck, I gotta get out of here.”\n\n\t“Wait,” Leo said, moving towards his brother as Raph retrieved his belt and sais. “Stay here tonight; stay with me. We can do other things.”\n\n\tRaph laughed bitterly. “That’s like offering a guy table scraps when the rest of the world’s eating steak. I don’t want a charity blow job, I want your ass; I want everything. I want ya’ ta give it ta me ‘cause ya’ want to.”\n\n\t“We’ve had this discussion,” Leo said. “I want you, you want me. We’ve talked and talked about this and . . . .”\n\n\t“Maybe we ain’t gonna ever talk enough,” Raph interrupted.\n\n\t“That’s because we’re both talking and neither is listening,” Leo argued. “Getting my mind to the place where I have the fortitude to keep us alive requires a level of discipline that I have to maintain at all times.”\n\n\t“Not in the bedroom,” Raph insisted. “There has to be a safe zone where ya’ can just be one of us, Leo. Ya’ gotta give me that kind of trust.”\n\n\t“That goes both ways,” Leo said. “You want my trust; all I’m asking for is the same of you.”\n\n\t“Only I gotta let go first, right Leo?” Raph asked. “That trust thing only works for ya’ if someone else gives in before ya’ do. We’re talking about a simple fuck, why do ya’ have ta complicate it?”\n\n\t“This isn’t just about sex,” Leo snapped. “Everything for you is always black and white.”\n\n\tRaph felt himself grow rigid. “Ya’ got no respect for me at all, do ya’ Leo? Ya’ think I’m some kind of simpleton. Maybe it is better that we don’t ever get together, that way I don’t have ta make the effort ta change your mind, and ya’ don’t have ta make the effort ta sink ta my level.”\n\n\tTurning away from his brother, Raph strode through the tunnels, ignoring Leo’s call for him to come back. His head felt like a melon about to burst and Raph knew he needed some air to cool the rage and pain churning inside of him.\n\n\tHe knew Leo wouldn’t follow him; their argument was done for the night. It wasn’t anything new; no great epiphany was revealed during this fight. What they’d said was the same old thing; Leo’s shields were always up around him, and Raph was sick of Leo hiding behind them.\n\n\tRaph had no way of knowing that Leo’s eyes held an anxious misery as he watched his hot headed brother walk way.\n\nTBC……………….", "writing_bbcode_parsed": "\tThe physical act of lifting weights did more for Raphael than just hone his muscles; it also worked to relieve many of his mental burdens.

\tAs his body strained with exertion, his thoughts became more clear, less bogged down by the onslaught of his wildly shifting emotions.  His mental center swung away from his reaction to external stimuli, and moved towards the analysis of them instead.

\tAfter his talk with Mikey, Raph had fallen asleep thinking about Leo and had dreamt of him.  In his dream, Leo had not run away from Raph’s roof top approach, but had instead continued to look at his brother with the same intense desire that Raph had imagined he’d seen on Leo’s face.

\tWhen Raph reached for him, Leo had suddenly turned into a panther, snarling and slashing at the younger turtle.  Each cut excited Raph further and he’d shoved Leo down, working his way between the powerfully kicking legs and swishing tail.

\tThe rain fell all around them but left them untouched, as though they were the center of some domed enclosure.  Breathing hard, Raph had looked down to find that the body under him was Leo’s again, but his head was completely covered by a blue hood.  In his hands were his twin katanas and he’d used them to slice at Raph, each wound forcing blood into the hot headed turtle’s already swollen cock.

\tGroaning with need, Raph had begun to push into Leo when he suddenly snapped awake, his erection standing tall and pulsing painfully.  His action had awakened Mikey, who despite his grogginess had assessed the situation expertly.

\tWithout a word, Mikey had climbed atop Raph and lowered himself onto his brother’s cock.  Riding him vigorously, Mikey had given Raph a much needed release, kissed him, and then rolled back onto the bed next to his brother.  Neither had said a thing throughout, being close enough to know it wasn’t necessary.  Falling back asleep was just a matter of a few minutes, and Raph passed the rest of the night with no further dreams.

\tRaph had awakened the next morning not with thoughts of Leo and their problems, but with a vague idea starting to form about the murders.  It had percolated in his brain during practice; he and his brothers knew the streets of New York City better than even the police did, and he wondered if there was some clue in where each of the victims was found.

\tHastily setting the weight bar into place, Raph jumped up from the bench, grabbing a dry towel as he left the dojo.  Patting the sweat from his body, Raph once more headed towards Don’s sanctuary in search of answers.

\tAs he figured, Don was inside, typing away on his computer.  After Raph entered the lab, he pushed the door closed and walked over to where his brother was sitting.

\tDon glanced at the door and then up at his brother.  “Something I can help you with?”

\t“Yeah,” Raph said, grabbing a stool and pulling it over.  “Can ya’ look some stuff up for me and keep it ta yourself?”

\t“That depends,” Don said.  “Are you going to use the information to do something insanely dangerous?”

\t“No,” Raph answered with a touch of annoyance.  “I just wanna satisfy my curiosity about something.”

\t“Okay then, what do you need?” Don asked.

\t“Can ya’ find the addresses where each of those men was murdered?”  Raph asked.  “Then can ya’ pull up a city map and put some kinda marker on each address?”

\t“Looking for a pattern?”  Don was already typing, his fingers a blur on his custom keyboard.

\t“It’s been bugging me,” Raph admitted.  “We’ve been all over that area where those men were killed and it dawned on me that they ain’t all that far apart.  I’m wondering if there’s something about those buildings or the area in general that makes it important ta the murderer.”

\t“Profiling the crime scene?” Don asked.  “I’m guessing that you learned as much as you could about the victims from the reports you looked at yesterday.”

\t“The victims are all the same type, Donny.  Big guys, all in good shape, all damn capable of defending themselves against an attacker.  One of ‘em was even an amateur mixed martial artist.  It don’t make sense that they’d get themselves shoved from a tall building without putting up a fight,” Raph said.

\t“So maybe your guess that the killer knocks them out isn’t so far off, only the person uses some kind of drug instead of brute force,” Don said, concentrating on plugging in each of the addresses he’d found.

\t“That still don’t add up,” Raph argued.  “Almost all of them were seen with women and jokes aside, I ain’t met one that could toss a two-hundred pound man around like a sack of potatoes.”

\t“How about a team?” Don asked.  “A man and woman working together.  Or a man working with a couple of women.”

\t“For what reason?  That kinda thing happens plenty of times but the motive is usually robbery and they don’t resort ta murder,” Raph said.  “They sure as hell pick an easier target than a guy who can punch through a brick wall.”

\t“Oh shell,” Don said in a quick exhale, staring at his computer screen.  “There is a pattern.”

\tHe turned the monitor so that Raph could see the map he’d created.  For each location where one of the murders had been committed Don had placed a flashing yellow dot.  Touching a key, the dots lifted away from the street map, hovering above the spot that each represented.  When Don rotated the view, the dots formed a three dimensional image that looked exactly like a staircase.

\tEyes narrowed in concentration, Raph asked, “Can ya’ label those dots with numbers representing the first through last kills?”

\t“Sure.”  Don pressed a couple of keys and the numbers one through five popped up on top of each yellow dot.

\t“Looks like stairs, with the one being at the top,” Raph said.  

\t“Or a very precise zigzag pattern,” Don offered, his head tilted slightly as he contemplated the onscreen model.

\t“So if the killer stays on this pattern, can ya’ predict where they’ll go next?” Raph asked.

\tDon’s fingers hovered over the keyboard as he eyed Raph.  “You know the police and probably more than a few reporters have figured out this pattern too, right?”

\t“For shits and giggles, Don,” Raph said.

\tMaintaining a skeptical expression, Don added a sixth yellow dot to the pattern and superimposed it over the city map.  When he returned the map to a street view, Raph inhaled sharply.

\t“That’s where I was last night,” Raph said, leaning in.  “No wonder I felt like I was being watched.”

\t“What was that?” Don demanded tersely.

\t“Don’t get your shell in a bunch,” Raph said.  “I was just running ta burn off some steam and I must have subconsciously headed back towards the last crime scene.  After a while I got that feeling on the back of my neck like someone was tracking me.  That’s why I came home early.”

\tLeaving out the part where he thought he’d seen Leo was instinctual.  Raph had already blown it off as a figment of his imagination when he was talking to Mikey and he wasn’t in the mood to hear Don analyze why that particular manifestation had looked like their oldest brother.

\t“You were smart to get away from there,” Don said.  “The cops probably have the entire area staked out and we certainly don’t need for any of us to be seen while they’re searching for a murderer.”

\t“Do ya’ think I’m an amateur, Donny?” Raph asked impatiently.  “I’ve had a lot of practice staying out of sight; from the cops, the Foot, the Dragons, Bishop – shell, seems like all I do is hide in the shadows.  Next thing ya’ know I’ll turn into another fucking Leo.”

\tHe hadn’t meant to bring Leo’s name into the conversation since he was pretty sure both Don and Mikey thought Raph was obsessing over him.  Raph couldn’t help the fact that they were all so intertwined into each other’s lives and that Leo played a more prominent role because he was their leader.

\t“And because I want ta fuck him,” said the hard to ignore little voice in Raph’s head.

\t“No I do not think you’re an amateur,” Don said.  “I think you’re hard headed and a trifle self-involved.  The point I was trying to make was that we all need to avoid that part of the city.  I should talk to Leo about that so he doesn’t arrange for us to patrol anywhere near the area shown in this pattern.”

\tRaph didn’t respond to that immediately, his mind was too busy toying with an idea.  It finally dawned on him that Don was staring at him expectantly.

\t“Yeah,” Raph said, offering a non-committal agreement.

\tDon’s eyes narrowed.  “That wasn’t very convincing.  You aren’t planning to do anything foolish are you?”

\t“Damn Donny, stop clucking over me like a mother hen,” Raph said in exasperation.  “I was just remembering that I was supposed ta do something with Casey tonight.  I need ta call that bone head and tell him we need ta meet in another section of the city.”

\t“You don’t think Leo will ban us from going topside after he finds out about this?” Don asked, gesturing towards the onscreen map.

\t“No, I don’t think he’ll ground us,” Raph said as he slipped off the stool and leaned over his brother.  “We don’t stop patrolling when the Foot are out looking for us or when we know Bishop’s up ta something, doesn’t make sense that we’d stop over some killer that ain’t got nothing ta do with us.”

\t“What are you doing?” Don asked as Raph gripped the back of his chair and buried his face in Don’s neck.

\t“You’re the genius,” Raph husked, moving his lips to within an inch of Don’s.  “Figure it out.”

\tThe kiss was barely more than a promise when a loud “harrumph” forced them apart, as neither had heard the door open.  Raph looked over his shoulder and Don leaned to the side, both simultaneously catching sight of Master Splinter.

\tWhen he had their attention, Master Splinter lifted his portable radio and said, “Donatello, this device is hungry again.”

\t“Hang on sensei, I’ll get some fresh batteries,” Don said, rolling away from Raph, who straightened up and turned towards their father.

\t“Raphael, I am happy to hear that you intend to use caution during your excursions with Mr. Jones,” Master Splinter said, making it apparent that he’d heard at least part of the brother’s conversation.  “A murderer of this type is a deadly and unpredictable malignancy and while it is imperative that he be destroyed as soon as possible, it is not for us to do.  The danger to our family is twofold; on one side is a warped and sick mind and on the other is a police force dedicated to catching him.

\t“We cannot afford to attract their attention.  This is not simply a matter of ensuring our secrets; if the police become curious about us it would distract them from their mission.  It would not serve anyone well for you to become involved in this investigation.”

\t“But what if the cops can’t catch him?” Raph asked.  “There’s always a chance that we could run across the guy by accident during our regular patrols.”

\t“You will of course not turn a blind eye to such a chance,” Master Splinter said, placing the radio in Don’s outstretched hand.  “What I ask is that you do not force the opportunity to occur.  I shall inform Leonardo of the dangers and relay to him my wishes in the matter.”

\t“I hear ya’ sensei,” Raph said, watching as Don replaced the dead batteries with fresh ones.

\tDon returned the radio to his father and tossed the used batteries into a box before returning to his seat.

\t“Thank you, Donatello,” Master Splinter said, glancing at both of his sons before leaving.

\tThe purple banded turtle was staring at Raph as their father disappeared from sight.  Raph looked over at him, his face a neutral mask.

\t“What?” Raph asked.

\t“Whenever you say ‘I hear you’ it means you aren’t committing yourself to anything,” Don said.

\t“Ya’ think ya’ got me all figured out, don’t ya’ Donny?” Raph asked as he lifted an eye ridge.

\tDon shook his head.  “I’ve heard that before too.  It usually precedes you getting into trouble.”

\t“Nah, I’m the picture of innocence,” Raph said as he turned towards the door.

\t“Hey,” Don called after him.  “Weren’t you about to thank me for helping you with that map?”

\tRaph was already out of the lab, but he spun around and leaned in, bracing himself on the door jamb.

\t“Keep it warm for me,” Raph said with a cocky grin.  “I gotta make that call ta my man Casey and then I’ll be back.”

\tDon snorted.  “Don’t take too long or I’ll start working on another project.”

\tRaph took a quick look around the lair, easily locating the other members of the family.  Master Splinter and Leo were in deep discussion, no doubt about him, and Mikey was ostensibly playing a video game but probably eavesdropping as well.

\tWalking over to the elevator as nonchalantly as possible, Raph kept his eyes on the doors as they slid open.  Only after they began to close behind him did he turn to see if anyone was watching him.  Fortunately, he spent a lot of time in the garage working on his bike, so none of his family appeared to pay him the least bit of attention.

\tAs soon as he was in the garage, Raph pulled out his shell cell and punched in Casey’s number.  The phone rang several times before being picked up by the answering machine.

\t“I ain’t here right now, leave a message,”  the device requested.

\t“Casey!  Answer your fucking phone!” Raph shouted, knowing his friend was probably asleep.  “Pick it up!”

\tRaph heard a scratching sound, followed by a bang, and then his friend’s voice.  “This better be good,” Casey said, his tone raspy.

\t“Ya’ gotta meet me tonight,” Raph told him, “on the roof of that building across from the liquor store where we saw the Dragons.”

\t“Did ya’ hear something?” Casey asked, his voice a bit clearer.  “Are they gonna try ta hit it again?”

\t“I’ll tell ya’ when ya’ get there,” Raph said.  “Eleven o’clock work for ya’?”

\t“Sounds good,” Casey said and then hung up.

\tRaph was smiling as he put his cell phone away.  Having an adventure to look forward to always made him feel more alive, especially if that adventure might lead to him ridding the city of a sicko killer.

\tThe thrill of anticipation reminded him that he’d gotten Don all primed and ready to go for a ride on Raph’s rocket.  Chuckling to himself, Raph headed back down to the lair so as not to keep the genius waiting any longer.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

\tLeo hadn’t been visible much during the rest of the day and that suited Raph just fine.  When his oldest brother was preoccupied by something, it was a lot easier for Raph to do his own thing, like leaving the lair to meet up with Casey.

\tRaph exited the lair via the tunnel entrance, fairly sure that no one had even noticed.  He was only a few yards in when Leo suddenly stepped out of the shadows to block his path.

\tThey stared at each other for a couple of minutes, neither saying anything.  If the fact that Leo had been lying in wait for him wasn’t enough of a clue that Raph’s big brother had something on his mind, the silent scrutiny sure as shell gave it away.

\tThe idea that Leo thought simply staring Raph down was enough to make him blurt things out struck the larger turtle as funny.  His lips curled upwards and he saw a quick flash come and go in Leo’s amber eyes.

\t“I know that you saw me speaking to Master Splinter,” Leo said by way of an opening gambit.

\tRaph shrugged.  “So what?  You’re always talking ta him.”

\t“Then you know he relayed to me his concerns about our getting tangled into the middle of a police investigation,” Leo said.

\t“And ya’ know he didn’t forbid us from going topside,” Raph said.  “What’s your damage?”

\tLeo was too good at interrogation to give away his frustrations by taking a deep breath, but Raph could see him mentally do so.  Almost subconsciously Raph shifted his stance into something more defensive.

\tThe mood in the tunnel changed imperceptibly as Leo responded to Raph’s physical cue.  His shoulders pulled back slightly and his arms were no longer relaxed against his sides.

\t“The more that I think about this, the less I like the idea of your going out to meet Casey,” Leo said, his voice still even.  “Don told me the two of you discovered a pattern in that murderer’s kills.  He also admitted that your interest in it makes him uncomfortable.”

\t“It ain’t like he didn’t warn me he was gonna tell ya’ those things,” Raph said.

\t“But maybe you thought sexing him up would be a good way to make him forget about actually doing so,” Leo responded.

\tRaph felt his face heat up and his stomach start to churn with angry bile.  “I don’t fuck my brothers as a way ta manipulate them,” he said between gritted teeth.  “Don knows I don’t play like that and I thought ya’ would at least have enough respect for me not ta think that either.”

\tLeo looked disconcerted.  “I shouldn’t have worded it that way.”

\t“You’re right, ya’ shouldn’t have,” Raph said, pushing past his brother.

\t“Raph wait,” Leo said as he caught Raph’s arm.  When Raph spun around, Leo released him.  “I didn’t come out here to get into an argument.”

\t“Could have fooled me,” Raph snapped.

\t“Can you at least grant me my concern?” Leo asked.  “I know that your protective instincts extend beyond the walls of the lair and I need to know you won’t get involved in a case the police are actively investigating.”

\t“Ya’ talked ta Master Splinter,” Raph said.  “What did he tell ya’?”

\t“He seemed to think you understood that you should stay away from this thing,” Leo said.

\tRaph laughed once, harshly.  “But ya’ think otherwise, right Leo?  Ya’ think I’m gonna blow off all the warnings and stick my face right in the middle of it.”

\t“Tell me you won’t,” Leo said softly.  His gaze sent a shiver down Raph’s spine.  “Tell me straight out you’ll stay away from the crime scenes.  Promise me.”

\t“No,” Raph said, moving closer to Leo.  “I ain’t gonna do that.  Ya’ wanna know why?  ‘Cause ya’ shouldn’t have ta ask me ta watch my own ass.  Ya’ should have enough faith in me ta know I can do that without a babysitter.”

\t“Why does this have to be about how you think I perceive you?” Leo asked.  “I don’t question your abilities Raph, but sometimes I do question your judgment.”

\t“’Cause that’s your job ain’t it Splinter Junior?” Raph mocked lightly.  “You’re supposed ta know our weaknesses and make adjustments for them.  Ya’ knew from Don that I was planning to go out ta meet Casey tonight, but ya’ waited until I was leaving ta jump me about it.  Why is that?”

\tFor a moment Raph thought that Leo wouldn’t answer the question and that made him even more curious.  The usual pattern for confrontations of this type was for Leo to finally order Raph to stay home and for Raph to tell him to go to hell.

\tLeo’s reaction to Raph’s ridicule was thoughtful rather than defensive.  Raph’s hands relaxed slightly as he waited to find out Leo’s real motivation for ambushing him in the tunnels.

\t“I wanted to talk to you,” Leo said.  “I didn’t want you to leave the lair tonight because I was hoping we could find a place to be alone and work some things out.”

\tThe anger in Raph’s belly turned to butterflies; his gold eyes unwavering as they focused on Leo.

\tTaking another step nearer, Raph wasn’t completely surprised when Leo held his ground.  Pulse quickening, Raph asked, “What did ya’ want ta work out?”

\t“This rift between us,” Leo answered, lifting his head enough to maintain eye contact with his taller brother.  “We both know what we have is good, but it’s not good enough.”

\t“So make it better,” Raph said, his voice husky.  “Talking ain’t the way ta solve this.”

\tThe brothers were separated by only a couple of feet and Leo covered that distance in less than a tenth of a second, his speed taking Raph’s breath away.  Their plastrons touched but neither lifted a hand, merely standing against each other as they spoke with their eyes.

\tWhen Leo’s head tilted back slightly, Raph’s lips twitched and he lowered his mouth until it connected with his brother’s.  For a moment they held that pose, just their lips pressed together as they gazed at one another.

\tThen Leo’s eyelids quivered and slid closed as he pushed harder on his brother’s mouth.  Raph responded immediately, grasping the edges of Leo’s shell and pulling the blue banded turtle flush against his body.

\tA familiar aching need coursed through Raph’s veins, a rich fire that was unlike anything he felt with his other two brothers.  Somehow he knew it was reciprocated, especially when Leo churred and grabbed a double handful of Raph’s belt.

\tThey pulled and pushed at each other, mouths separating with heady gasps and coming together again, tongues twisting and fighting for dominance.  Raph couldn’t recall how his feet had left the ground when he suddenly landed hard on his carapace with Leo on top of him.

\tLeo’s hand circled the back of Raph’s neck, keeping his brother’s mouth locked against his own, while his free hand caressed Raph’s bare hip.  With a grunt, Leo yanked one of Raph’s sais free and tossed it aside, sliding his hand beneath Raph’s belt until it came into contact with the knot that held it in place.

\tAs Leo worked the knot free, Raph reached between them and quickly unfastened Leo’s, sliding the sheaths from his back.  When Raph’s belt came free, Leo broke the kiss to stare down at his brother, desire flashing brightly in his amber eyes.

\tRaph’s hand flashed upwards, curling over the back of Leo’s head so that he could yank his brother’s mouth back down to his.  They were both churring now, their bodies squirming against each other’s.

\tLeo pressed a knee between Raph’s legs, rubbing his groin against his brother’s.  Raph quivered, his arousal growing, as a primal need to sink his meaty flesh into a warm body pulled a feral growl from his diaphragm.

\tGripping Leo’s shoulders tightly, Raph shoved his brother to the side, rolling with him as Leo lost his perch and landed on his carapace.  Their mouths separated and Leo’s eyes widened as he felt Raph shove both of his legs between the older turtle’s thighs.

\tWhen Raph tried to capture his mouth once more, Leo turned his head aside.  His gasp was loud as Raph bit his neck, teeth clinging to flesh as Raph’s hand once more disappeared between them.

\tSliding a rough palm across Leo’s bulge, Raph shifted his aim lower, his fingers questing for the hot entrance he so desperately craved.  His mind didn’t register Leo’s grunt of displeasure, taking the sound to mean that his brother wanted more.

\tOne of Leo’s legs lifted so that he could bring his foot up against Raph’s hip and as soon as he made contact, he kicked, hard.  The move toppled Raph, sending him flying to crash into the nearby wall.

\tHe started forward quickly, wanting nothing more than to regain his place on top of his brother, but Leo had already jumped to his feet and backed away.  Slowly standing, Raph stared at his brother, seeing his hunger reflected in Leo’s eyes along with the same heavy confusion.

\tThey were both panting and needy, but neither moved.  It was all Raph could do to hold still, but he could see Leo’s hands were balled into fists, his entire demeanor giving off as loud a ‘no’ as his earlier actions had all but shouted ‘yes’.

\t“Why’d ya’ stop?” Raph asked between heavy breaths.

\t“It’s no good, we can’t be free of this,” Leo told him, his voice both deep and pained.

\tRaph could feel his anger returning and pushed it down, desperate to understand what was happening between them.

\tIn an almost pleading tone, Raph asked, “Can’t ya’ just let go?  Ya’ don’t have ta be in control all of the time, Leo.  Let me show ya’ how we can make this work.  Come on bro’, don’t go cold on me, just let go.”

\t“I can’t do that; you don’t understand,” Leo said, his distress clear.  “If you spend a lifetime building a wall to hide your feelings from enemies, the wall can’t have cracks in it and it can’t go up and down on a whim.”

\t“That’s the fucking problem,” Raph grumbled.  “Ya’ got a damn wall between us.”

\t“And what about yours?  Why do I have to relinquish who I am in order for this to work?” Leo demanded.  “You can drop the macho routine when we’re alone.”

\t“I ain’t acting, Leo,” Raph all but shouted.  “This is who I am.  Why is that so hard for ya’ ta understand?  Fuck, I gotta get out of here.”

\t“Wait,” Leo said, moving towards his brother as Raph retrieved his belt and sais.  “Stay here tonight; stay with me.  We can do other things.”

\tRaph laughed bitterly.  “That’s like offering a guy table scraps when the rest of the world’s eating steak.  I don’t want a charity blow job, I want your ass; I want everything.  I want ya’ ta give it ta me ‘cause ya’ want to.”

\t“We’ve had this discussion,” Leo said.  “I want you, you want me.  We’ve talked and talked about this and . . . .”

\t“Maybe we ain’t gonna ever talk enough,” Raph interrupted.

\t“That’s because we’re both talking and neither is listening,” Leo argued.  “Getting my mind to the place where I have the fortitude to keep us alive requires a level of discipline that I have to maintain at all times.”

\t“Not in the bedroom,” Raph insisted.  “There has to be a safe zone where ya’ can just be one of us, Leo.  Ya’ gotta give me that kind of trust.”

\t“That goes both ways,” Leo said.  “You want my trust; all I’m asking for is the same of you.”

\t“Only I gotta let go first, right Leo?” Raph asked.  “That trust thing only works for ya’ if someone else gives in before ya’ do.  We’re talking about a simple fuck, why do ya’ have ta complicate it?”

\t“This isn’t just about sex,” Leo snapped.  “Everything for you is always black and white.”

\tRaph felt himself grow rigid.  “Ya’ got no respect for me at all, do ya’ Leo?  Ya’ think I’m some kind of simpleton.  Maybe it is better that we don’t ever get together, that way I don’t have ta make the effort ta change your mind, and ya’ don’t have ta make the effort ta sink ta my level.”

\tTurning away from his brother, Raph strode through the tunnels, ignoring Leo’s call for him to come back.  His head felt like a melon about to burst and Raph knew he needed some air to cool the rage and pain churning inside of him.

\tHe knew Leo wouldn’t follow him; their argument was done for the night.  It wasn’t anything new; no great epiphany was revealed during this fight.  What they’d said was the same old thing; Leo’s shields were always up around him, and Raph was sick of Leo hiding behind them.

\tRaph had no way of knowing that Leo’s eyes held an anxious misery as he watched his hot headed brother walk way.

TBC……………….", "pools_count": 1, "title": "The Witchery Way part 5", "deleted": "f", "public": "t", "mimetype": "application/msword", "pagecount": "1", "rating_id": "2", "rating_name": "Adult", "ratings": [ { "content_tag_id": "4", "name": "Sexual Themes", "description": "Erotic imagery, sexual activity or arousal", "rating_id": "2" } ], "submission_type_id": "12", "type_name": "Writing - Document", "guest_block": "t", "friends_only": "f", "comments_count": "3", "views": "180" }