A/N: Mikey takes up the majority of this chapter *sigh* All the other parts are short. I had trouble getting to the last scene at first. At least from know on the chapters will be FUN to type. I'm almost done with this notebook too... This fic may end up being as long as Messages on the Wall was. o.o Anyway, read on.

OH! You may have guessed by now but I'll tell ya anyway. Quoted lines in italics are talking but is not heard outloud.

Disclaimer: I don't own them. I'm practically killing them! I only own Caden, Annie, Jo, Henry, and Trek (and Chief Crayne and Cliff but they only appear in the fic before this). I also own the plot!

Donatello's POV:

As soon I get to work on Mikey, I knew it was a slime chance he would survive this. It was already a fatal injury if not treated right away and through I did slow the bleeding with the bandages, that became useless with him running off like that. All I can do right now is re-bandage him. With so much blood that he's already lost, he's gonna need a transfusion – which is always a tricky process with us – or at least something to keep him stable until his body replenishes the lost amount. Whatever that needs to be done needs to be done quickly. I will not allow Mikey to die. Henry can not be allowed to win.

At Leo's question, I was just finishing up with the preliminaries. "We can move him now. He's stable enough for transport, but we'll have to be careful and fast. I can't do what I need to here. I don't even have the proper materials. I'll need someone to go to the lair for supplies."

"Casey and I will." Raph says.

"We'll take my bike," Casey agrees, "Whaddaya need?" I gave them a list and their locations before turning to Leo as they ran off.

"We need to get him to the van."

"You carry him," Leo says, instantly as he shifts his weight, directing my attention to the bandages covering his legs.

"You don't need those bandages anymore, Leo." I say, sharply, as I lift Mikey carefully in my arms so his bandages don't come undone. "In fact, you should get rid of them. They're only inhibiting the healing process. You're legs are fine."

"They still bother me," He says, vaguely.

"They shouldn't." I can't help but be blunt and piercing with my words. "If they still bother you, then that's all in your head. Get over it." When I reach the edge of the roof, I maneuver Mikey so I handle the ladder with one hand.

"Stop it, Don." Leo demands, sounding almost like himself.

"I haven't even started yet." I say nonchalantly with a bit of anger. "You always take everyone's guilt as your own and compile it into an almost physical weight. Now this misplaced guilt is all your own and your holding yourself back like you want to feel that weight crushing you. It's not even worth it! I don't know what makes you think you deserve this forced solitude. If anyone should feel guilt, it's me. I let Hun take me down like it was nothing and let you worry whether I was even alive after that! That's when I began to act like this raging beast. Now that's a reason to desire solitude." Leo doesn't respond and I have to glance up at him to see if he was even there. He isn't even acknowledging me anymore.

I take the rest of the way done with a jump and quickly move towards the van. It's mostly silent as Leo opens the back doors for me and I hop inside to carefully lay Mikey down on the floor. I hear the front driver's door open and close, informing me Leo was driving. The van starts up as I finish securing Mikey and we're finally on our way.

"You're not the only one to lecture me today, Don." Leo says after a few minutes of driving. "It seems everyone wants their chance to get me back. Mikey was the only one who hasn't yet. Even Caden's tried, but none of your attempts worked. I'm sorry. I've tried to overcome this, but too much is happening at once. I'm not ready to handle it. When I leave this time, I may not come back. Don't tell anyone this. They probably already know anyway. I just need more time."

This time I lead the conversation into silence. I want my brother back, but I don't know if that'll ever happen. I don't know if anything will ever work out right.

Casey's POV

While on the way to get the supplies Don needs, I notice some of the stuff's in his lab. I might have to get those things if Raph has trouble. I hope Raph can eventually get over that fear. All I can do is help him right now. That's what best buds are for.

We finally arrive at the warehouse-turned-garage above the lair. I park my 'bike and Raph and I make our way to the elevator to the lair. I glance at the list as I slowly follow Raph inside. "Most of this stuff's in Don's lab so…" I begin.

"Raph glances at the enclosed space in question before saying, "Yeah, I'll get tha otha stuff first. You can handle tha stuff in tha lab, right? I'll…help ya if I get done first…"

"'Kay."

"What has happened, my son?" Splinter says as he appears outside of his room all ninja-like. I swear he wasn't there before… I walk towards the lab letting Raph handle that.

"It's Mikey. He's…" I hear before I stop paying attention. I continuously glance at the list as I pack the stuff up. Eventually, I finish up and meet Raph near the door.

"Got everything?" He asks me as he grabs the duffel I used to place his stuff inside.

"Yep, let's head out."

April's POV

As soon as I hear the door of the van close outside, I know they've arrived. Donny called ahead to tell me they were coming so I was ready to open the door for them. My first look at Mikey, I thought he looked dead. He's so pale and he's almost completely covered in his own blood.

I had Donny set Mikey on the couch as I left to get new bandages, his old ones now soaked through. I glanced at Leo momentarily. He seems to be mostly hovering off to the side. He really looked out of place just like he did that other time he was over.

Caden and Annie appeared almost as soon as I returned. Thankfully, both seemed more interested in Mikey's heath and left Leo alone. I think Leo was relieved at that. I hand Donny a rag and a bucket of water so he could wash off the blood covering Mikey. Raph and Casey arrived with Master Splinter soon after and handed over the duffel bag full of the materials Donny asked for. He went to work immediately. Raph watched from a chair and Casey held my hand where I stood by the opposite wall. I know Casey wanted to do more, but I'm glad he refrained.

Splinter's POV

When Donatello was finished, I approach Michelangelo's limp form. I was told there was nothing else that could be done for him. All we can do is wait for him to wake now. I sit down in a chair brought for me nest to my youngest and place a hand on his arm. I can feel his emotional turmoil like it was a physical enemy. My son who, along with his brothers, never fully got over his mental trauma. I had tried to prevent this, but not even I can fully stop the pain they feel. It all makes me feel so old and frail.

"Michelangelo, my son," I whisper to him, "Please find your way back to us. I know your journey may be tough, but your family needs you. Don't let go. Fight this. Come back to me, my son."

Michelangelo's POV

Let me tell you: dying hurts. Even with Henry holding me back, it's like my whole body's fighting against it. Henry seems to think if I just let go, it won't hurt anymore. I don't know if I believe him. That sounds scary. This is as close as I've ever been to letting myself die even if it's Henry's fault. It's hard for me to know what I really want. Henry's thoughts keep mixing with my own and I just don't know anymore. At least I'm not tied up anymore, but just lying here's not helping any. I can't move anyway. I'm just lying face-down on the nothingness. I'm limp and completely helpless.

Maybe I should just give up? I'll get to see Jo again. I think I really loved her. She shouldn't have been taken away from me, before I could find out. I shouldn't have left her. She's probably waiting for me. I just have to let go and I'll be with her again. A dreamy smile crosses my face at that.

My brothers don't understand anyway. They can't. They've never loved like I have. They've never truly found a girl like Jo. April doesn't count. She's too old for us and Angel definitely doesn't count. She's just not love material. I don't even think Leo likes Karai anymore. She just messed up too many times. None of the girls we know are like Jo. Okay maybe there's that alien chick Donny crushed on, but Don's over her I think. She was just a passing stranger we helped out. I wonder if Donny kept that lock of her hair? I'd have to ask him that… If I live through this of course. I don't know if I will…

"Just what do you think you're doing, ya lazy klutz?"

"Jo?" I ask as I open my eyes to the dark void of nothingness inside my own head. I don't see anything so I return to my curled-up position on the ground.

"Michelangelo! Getch'er butt up right this instant!"

I look up at her voice again. I know I heard it. I must be going crazy. Either that or I'm dead already….

"Yer not dead…yet," She says. That's when I spot her. She's still wearing the ripped clothing she wore at her death with her messy boy-ish haircut. She has her hands on her hips and she's starring down at me with her usual withering look. Oh god, I love her! I want to be with her forever!

"Don't be ridiculous." She says as she turns away with her arms folded over her chest. "Yer still as ignorant as ever. Stop tryin' ta see me. You'll get yerself in trouble…more trouble."

"But…I want to…" I tell her feebly as I reach for her. A feeling of peace – so different from the pain of earlier – comes over me with the motion.

"No, don't say that." She says, sternly as she smacks my hand away – the touch alone increasing the peaceful feeling twice as much before disappearing entirely to be replaced with the dull pain of earlier. "Don't even touch me. Ya can't do that to yer family."

"Wha- what do ya mean?" I ask her, stunned.

"Don't make me take you away from your family. You have a choice – one I neva had. Take it."

"Jo…?"

"Please Mikey…"

"But…" I feel a tear fall from my eye and I quickly wipe it away. "But I need you. I can't live without you."

"Ya did b'fore, shell-fer-brains." She says, editing her usual 'dung-for-brains' insult I never practically liked. "Can't ya see what'cher doin' ta yer family? Yer dad wants ya back. Didn't ya hear 'im?"

"…No…"

"Yer probably too busy convincin' yerself ta die then. Well he did. Even yer brothers do. Yer tearin' what's left of 'em apart. How can ya do that? You've always talked so highly about them b'fore. Why?"

"Because…'cause they don't understand me. They don't know me. They can't understand what I'm going through and they ignore me. They don't care. They don't realize…what you meant to me. They laugh about it. I'm nothing to them. I'm just a shadow walking among them and they don't notice I'm there. They don't notice my pain. They know nothing. They hate me."

"Is that you or Henry talkin'? 'Cuz it sounds like Henry's messin' wit'cher feelin's again. Didn't Raph try ta help ya and you just brushed 'im off? It looks like ya jus' don't wanna be saved."

"I…I don't know… Everything's so confusing." I tell her, "I just wanna stop thinking…"

"Don't ya do that already?" Jo asks with a crack of a smile.

"Heh, not funny," I say, unable to hold back my smile.

"You thought it was." She says, "Mikey, ya really gotta let yer family help ya. They do care about'cha, but ya can't keep hidin' from them if ya want their help."

"It's too late… Henry killed me…"

"No it isn't," She says, firmly, "Ya have a choice. Weren't'cha list'nin'?"

"I don't get it."

"I was sent here ta collect ya if ya choose ta go, but ya can still live if yer up ta it. Just turn back."

"I'm not ready for this, Jo." I say, shakily.

"Ya have ta be." She says, "Choose yer fate, Mikey."

A/N: Please review. Ya can't resist the power of the review button ^.^ OH! And for those who care, I'm on vacation so I can type more now (I had exams to study for last week) though I'll write less. I'll be away from my comp on thursday and forbidden on friday for obvious reasons. I also only get nights to type too so updates will be slow. Here's a heads-up. Who likes Treckcarion from Messages? He will make a reappearence immediately in the next chapter doing what he does best: showing Raph new things he can do randomly. ^.^