WARNING: Mikey's story might be a little rough for some of you guys...fair warning.

Chapter Two: Mikey

I take a deep breath. "There's this guy – Murakami – that owns a noodle shop in Chinatown. He's old and blind, but we saved him from the Foot so he trusts us."

This seems so un-relatable to the story that Nee blinks, confusion registering on her bloodied face. If it had been any other situation, I would have maybe laughed. But my wrist is still burning like fire from where Tiger Claw branded me, and judging by the hesitancy of Nee's movements, I'd say that she still doesn't fully trust me yet.

So I put on my most winning smile and keep going with my story, making sure to keep some distance between the two of us. "I had a fight with my brothers last week. Raph was calling me names. Saying I was useless to the team because I got distracted so much. I just...I couldn't take it anymore, so I left. Went up to Murakami's. He's always got some Gyoza for us.

"When I got to the restaurant, I found a note tacked to the wall. It said-" My throat threatens to close up, and it's a moment before I can speak again. "It said that if I wanted Murakami to live, I'd come alone to Foot Headquarters. Then Shredder told me that they'd only let Murakami go if I would join the Foot."

"They let you in just like that? But you're a-"

"They brought in this girl, about seven or eight years old. Handed me a sword." My voice cracks. "I can't get her screams out of my head...Every time I close my eyes, I see the fear and hate on her face." Unconsciously, my right hand clenches into a fist. "Feel her blood on my skin."

This is the first time that I've let myself think about what happened – about what I did and the monster I became. And suddenly, it's all too much. Something breaks deep within me, even as Nee works her small fingers into my fist and pulls my hand to her chest.

"Mikey," she whispers, disbelief and tears sparkling in her gold eyes.

A strangled noise yanks itself from my throat, and I bury my face in her shoulder, sobbing. "I've never killed anyone. Never."

I don't know what time it is when I wake up, my body stiff from laying in one position for so long. A glance at Nee reveals that she's asleep too.

For a moment, I just sit there and watch her. Even though her shirt is ragged, her skin bloody, and her back raw, there is a type of innocence in her face when she sleeps that even Shredder can't touch.

But then a warning tingles in the back of my mind. Something is wrong. Nee is too still, her breathing too shallow. I reach out in the dim lighting, trying to find her forehead, and gasp when my fingers make contact with her skin. It's ice cold.

And the floor...until now I hadn't paid attention, but the stone underneath us is sticky. Swallowing, I brush the floor with my finger and smell the substance. Bile rises in my throat. The metallic smell is something I can only recognize because of the thousands of scrapes and cuts that we've gotten over the years.

Blood.

In the back of my mind, I can almost hear Donnie's voice. Severe blood loss. Needs immediate medical attention and blood transfusion or else-

My eyes widening and filling with tears – Please, Nee, stay with me. Please don't leave me alone here - , I rush to the cell door and begin banging on it. "Help! I need a doctor down here! Please, somebody-"

A hand shoots through the bars beside me, covering my mouth and effectively shutting me up. I panic for a moment until I realize that the hand is large, three-fingered, and wrapped in gauze.

I give a muffled okay to Donnie and he lets go of my face, allowing me to step back and look at the three of them. Leo kneels down next to the cell door, working on the lock. The door springs open two seconds later, and in barges Raphael...who immediately throws his arms around me and lifts me up.

I grunt, trying to free my arms. "What are you doing, dude?"

"Hugging, I think!"

My face scrunches in confusion. "It's...weird."

Raph stares at me for a moment and then sets me on the ground again. "Yeah...let's never do that again."

Leo slips an arm around my shell and helps me towards the door of the cell. "C'mon, bro. Let's get you home."

A moan from the corner draws their attention, and Donnie and Raph instantly have their weapons out. "M-Mikey," Nee calls weakly, her eyes opening just the tiniest bit. She reaches out for me and I shrug out of Leo's grip, kneeling down next to her.

"It's okay, Nee. They're my brothers. They're here to rescue us."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa," Raph interrupts. "What do you mean, us? She's Foot, Mike. There's no way in shell that we're hauling her back to the Lair."

"She's no more Foot than I am!" I retort, forgetting to be quiet. "She saved me, Raph. And I'll be darned if I leave her here to die."

"Wait a minute." Leo steps in, his eyes narrowed. "She saved you?"

Nodding, I run my hand over Nee's head, smoothing her hair back from her clammy face. "I'll tell you later. But if she doesn't get help, she's going to die."

Donnie crouches next to us, turning on a flashlight. He grimaces when he notes the blood-covered floor, but his expression quickly turns urgent as he sees the numerous gouges across her back. "Holy shell...Leo, he's right. There's no way that she'll live if these aren't cleaned and bandaged."

"And if Nee stays, then I stay," I announce, leaning back against the wall and pulling her head into my lap. She moans again, then falls silent.

My oldest brother hesitates, the need to grab me and go warring with the drive to protect us from the enemy in front of him. A sigh escapes his mouth and he lifts Nee off of the floor, making sure not to jostle her back too much. "Fine. But Mikey, she's your responsibility. If she gets out of line, or something happens, it's on you. Understand?"

A quick nod of my head has Leo turning to Donnie and Raph. "Don, help Mikey out. Raph, watch our backs."

Though he doesn't look happy, Raph mutters consent and goes to make sure the coast is clear. My eyes lock onto Nee, who's curled up in Leo's arms, the peaceful look returned to her face.

I told you I'd take you home, I think. Vaguely, I feel Donnie pick me up. My head falls against his plastron, my eyes drifting shut. Yawning, I let sleep claim me.