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Description
Night

Raphael woke up in a place he had never seen before. He found himself to be lying on a hard asphalt surface and all around him were things he had only seen on television: space ships, cars, dragons, and swing sets. He grinned; it was a five-year-old boy's paradise.

Raph hastily jumped to his feet and climbed in the rocket ship. That's when he looked all around and realized that he was completely alone. He had himself a brief celebration, knowing this meant that he did not have to share all of these glorious “toys”. No Mikey to whine about when it would be his turn to play. No Donnie to ramble on about some crap he didn't understand. No Leo to pester him and tell him why he needs to let Mikey and the rest of them have a turn too, and no Splinter to bust his butt for punching Leo in the face.

He pushed the green button on the dash and the rocket shot up into the air. The little turtle giggled madly as he drove it through loops, up high really fast and then down low just as fast, halting it just before it slammed to the ground. What a rush the little one felt throughout his body.

Finally, he landed the rocket and turned it off. Not even close to having his fill of fun, he leaped out and headed for one of the cars. It was much like a dune buggy with giant wheels and a small frame. He jumped inside and hit the green button to start it before his bottom even met the seat. Much to his surprise, nothing happened. He hit the button again, but this time found that the scenery before him began to fade and transform. Slowly, it was completely gone and all around him was nothing more than his bedroom that he shared with his older brother, Leonardo.

He rolled over and found the rumbling from the rocket that he thought he'd heard was nothing more than Leo's snoring. He closed his eyes tightly and tried to deny to himself that it was only a dream, or that maybe it was a dream, but if he went back to sleep soon enough, it would hold it's place and continue where he left off like a paused movie. No such luck. Several minutes had gone by and the little turtle found that he was still wide awake and back in reality.

A tall figure appeared in his doorway, startling him momentarily, until he realized that it was only his father, probably checking up on him and Leo before he turned into bed himself.

Splinter approached their bed and adjusted Leonardo's blanket and lightly kissed his forehead. He went to Raphael to do the same, but stopped when he saw that he was awake.

He smiled. “Raphael, what are you doing still awake?”

Raph sat up. “I was asleep,” he groaned, “but I woke up and now I can't go back to sleep.”

Splinter knelt down and put a hand on his carapace. “I am sorry, my son. Did you have a nightmare?”

Raph shook his head. “No, I don't get scared,” he snapped. “I was having a good dream, but Leo's snoring woke me up.”

Splinter chuckled. “He is a bit more nasally tonight then usual. Perhaps some hot tea will help you get to sleep?”

Raph shrugged. “Worth a shot.”

Splinter scooped up Raph and headed for the kitchen. “Maybe you could tell me about your dream?”

“It was awesome!” Raph mused. “I was in this weird place and there were cars and rocket ships and dragons and stuff and I didn't have to share with nobody.”

Splinter set him down on the kitchen floor.

“Well at the sound of it it sounds like there was more than enough fun to go around,” Splinter added.

“No,” Raph replied. “Nobody was there 'cept for me, so I could play as much as I wanted. I rode the rocket ship and went up in the air and did all kinds of loop-dee-loops and I was goin' fast, daddy! I was goin' real fast!”

Splinter filled the teapot with water and set it on the stove, waiting for it to heat up.

“Did you get to see any aliens?” he asked.

“No, I didn't go to the moon. I stayed on the Earth, but I did go really high up. It was so cool...”

Splinter sensed his son's tone beginning to withdraw.

“Did you get to ride any dragons?” he asked, trying to bring back his enthusiasm.

Raph sighed. “No, I went to go drive one of the awesome cars with the giant wheels and stupid Leo's snoring woke me up.”

“Well, maybe when you go back to sleep it will continue.”

Raph shook his head. “That never happens.”

Splinter frowned and tried to think of something encouraging to tell him, but his thoughts were interrupted by the whistling of the teapot. He filled a small teacup with the hot water and dropped a teabag in it.

“Daddy...” Raph whimpered.

Splinter knelt down to his level and looked into his sad emerald eyes. “Hm?”

“Will I ever get to go ride a rocket ship?” A glimmer of hope in his saddened eyes melted his father's heart like it were the sun itself.

Splinter sighed, not sure of how to answer his son honestly without breaking his heart.

“Could we ever go to the surface and at least see a rocket ship? I promise I'll even share with Mikey if I get to ride it,” Raph pleaded.

Splinter sighed. “My son, you know the only time when it is even a little safe for us to be on the surface is at night, and even then...”

“Well let's go see one at night,” Raph pushed. “I heard you say before that you saw a rocket ship at that one place called the park!”

This was true. Splinter had told the boys not too long ago about the park and mentioned that they had a ride that looked like a rocket ship that you could sit on and it would rock back and fourth. He also mentioned the swing set and numerous other fun playground things.

“Please daddy, I wanna ride a rocket ship! It's my life-long dream,” Raph begged, hopping up and down and hugging his father around his neck for good measure.

Splinter pulled him close to him and lifted him up as he stood and removed the teabag from the cup, discarding it in the sink.

“I do not know, Raphael,” Splinter replied. “You know I want more than anything to make you happy and allow you to have fun like a child should, but I fear even at night in the darkness, when no one is around, the surface is still not safe.”

Raph accepted the cup of tea and sipped it carefully.

“But daddy, you're a ninja and you're really strong,” Raph argued. “If a human tries to hurt us, you can just kick their butts.”

Splinter chuckled. “This is true, but that would not be kind and I do not want to have to do it.”

Raph puckered out his lower lip and gave his father 'puppy eyes'. “Not even for me?”

Splinter ruffled his little head. “Of course I would for you. There's nothing I wouldn't do for you boys; I just do not wish to be in the place where I would have to.”

“Well what if when I saw a human, I hid inside my shell?” Raph suggested.

“I am not so sure that would work,” Splinter laughed. “Then they would wonder what this big turtle shell is doing in the park.”

Raph frowned. “Daddy, I really wanna ride a rocket ship.”

“I know and I want that for you as well,” Splinter sighed, “but I am just afraid for your safety.”

“No one will see us at night, 'cuz it is dark. We'll be safe.”

“I will have to think about it more, Raphael. I will try my best. Now, are you done with your tea?”

Raph nodded and handed his father the empty cup. Splinter set it in the sink.

“Come now, let's get you back into bed.”

Splinter lay Raph back on his cot next to Leo and tucked him in securely under his red blanket.

“Think real hard about the rocket ship, daddy,” Raph said. “Remember that you can take us at night and no one will see us. Night time is more fun with rocket ships anyway.”

“I will, my son. I will consider it for you.” He leaned in and kissed him on his forehead. “I love you very much.”

Raph rolled on his side and snuggled deeper into his blankets. “I love you too.”

Splinter left the room and Raph closed his eyes, wishing someone could hit the play button on his dream.