Guilty

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The morning came at a slow pace as the sun rose over the mountains, glaring down at the town below. Master Splinter came riding up in the car, stopping it in front of his home. He turned off the engine and rested his forehead on the stirring wheel. Saki's army had somehow infiltrated a high-ended security barrack that compromised their initial mission of entering enemy territory.

This stress of the sudden push of the enemy plus the problems that were going on at home were far too much for even him to handle and wanted nothing but a day of meditation and peace which he was lacking for months now. But he knew he wouldn't be able to have that luxury till his hectic life was in order so until then he needed to fix what was broken.

Finally he stepped out of the car and walked up to the door. When he opened the door to his home, he felt the sudden unease of it. This was something he has never felt. Although with the mood changes of Michelangelo and the strain put on his three eldest there was still a feel of home in the atmosphere. But what Master Splinter was feeling now was none of that. No, this was sad an almost haunting feeling as though someone had died.

He noticed as he walked through the home that none of his sons were around. Thinking of the time it was it was still relatively early. Easing his own mind for a moment convinced himself that his sons were all still asleep.

He opened the door to his office feeling the sudden need of sleep crashing through him but quickly became more aware when he saw Leonardo and Donatello standing by his desk.

"Father." Leo greeted bowing slightly but got no response from Don, which didn't surprise Splinter in the slightest.

"Leonardo, may I ask why is it you are in my study? Your training is not for another couple of hours." Master Splinter said walking over to his desk, making his sons maneuver to sit on the mat in front of it. Instead of sitting like he expected his sons to do, they stood there with intense looks on their faces.

"Father we need to talk." Leo said. Master Splinter sighed as he rubbed his head out of exhaustion.

"Could this wait Leonardo? I have had a very long night and our outcome for this war is not looking good."

"Father this is important." Leo urged. Splinter leaned over the desk, head down.

"What is it about?" He asked with slight irritation in his voice.

"Its about Master Fueli. As well as Michelangelo." Splinter narrowed his eyes at his son when he explained what exactly he wanted to talk about.

"Has Michelangelo told another wild story? Because frankly I am not in the mood to hear it." He said with a sneer.

"Father this isn't a joke." Leo was struggling. This was the first time in his life he was standing up to his father. The first time he was going against him and standing his ground. He would have to expose Fueli to his father and not only that, explain in detail what exactly that man had done to his younger brother.

"Leonardo I have had enough with Michelangelo's wild accusations and outbursts. Tomorrow I will be meeting with Master Fueli and talking to him about a retreat he will have him go through in hopes he will come back in more control." Leo could see in the corner of his eyes Donnie tensing the way he spoke of sending Mikey away.

"Father you can't send him there." Leo stated.

"Why can't I?" Splinter challenged.

"Because if you do you'll be sending him to his grave." Donnie spoke up. Something in Donatello's tone made Splinter stiffen.

"What was that?" He questioned.

"Fueli's intentions are not to tame Michelangelo. They never were." Leo started. "Father Master Fueli has been relaying information over to the other side for years and using past students to do that." A spark of anger flashed through Splinter's eyes.

"Leonardo that is absolutely obscured! Fueli has been my left hand for many years that would have never gotten by me. Who told you such a thing? Michelangelo?" That tone he had in his voice. The unbelievable tone that made Leo's blood run cold.

"No. I spoke to a past student of his who put the pieces together for me. If you look you will see one student of his is in each of our ranks and all holding some higher position. Besides Operations Fueli has a student in each rank. I know full well Fueli proposed for Mikey to be trained for Operations since none of his students were in that rank. Father he trains his students to listen to no one but him. He uses fear and pain. He has tried it on Mikey. Father…He has abused him in more ways than one." Leo tried to explain.

His father was always someone he had admired. He was a strong fighter, a stronger leader, and a loving father; for the most part… He had always respected him for taking him and his brothers in when their parents abandoned them. He has always loved his father. But at this moment he felt a slither of resentment and anger towards him. He could see on Master Splinters face that he was not buying anything he was saying.

"Abused? Leonardo that is a strong word to use for training. Fueli does not abuse Michelangelo only trains and for the snake assumption, well that itself is absurd. Fueli tells me himself how much he loathes Oroku Saki. So whoever may be telling you these is nothing more than that." Splinter said. Leo was frozen. He was expecting his father not to believe him but to completely brush off the idea that Fueli was a traitor to the country was almost unbelievable.

"Pathetic." Donnie mumbled. Splinter heard the small voice and narrowed his eyes.

"Do you have something to say Donatello?" Splinter challenged. Donnie kept a cool face, no showing of any emotion.

"I said you're pathetic. Too hard headed and too stubborn to believe your perfect little world has a flaw." Donnie snapped.

"Donatello, I have felt for many years your resentment towards me and I have come to an understanding of it but bite your tongue of events you no nothing about!" Splinter barked.

"Hold my tongue? Oh you do enough of that for me." Donnie sneered. "All these years you never noticed the light in Mikey's eyes start to die? You never noticed how he would come home with a distraught look on his face almost afraid? You never once questioned why this change of behavior and instead of approaching him you listen to the words of Fueli? The person who has been causing the distress on Michelangelo? Yeah, you hold tongue just enough because as his father you should have been on his side from the start!"
"That is enough from you Donatello! No I have noticed but I believe the more logical idea of Michelangelo acting out in rebellion than Fueli going against my alliance with him!"

"Is it so hard to believe that Fueli has been using your blindness to the actual problem to further his own plans?" Leo challenged. Splinter stared at both of his sons. He felt almost pride seeing them standing there in front of him. Both so grown up with their own voices and own hearts to give.

"Father the one thing you have always taught me was the one thing to always have in my mind when I am fighting is the safety of my family. I took an oath to protect my family at all costs. I will always protect my brothers, even if it is from you." Leo spoke coolly as he could, standing as tall as he could. He felt his heart pounding. This fight, it was going to go two ways. Either Splinter would listen, change his mind, or Leo would take his brothers and fight Fueli he, no matter who side his father was on.

Splinter's head was pounding to the sound of his heart. He felt angry and sad at the same time. His children were putting in so much effort to convince him that Fueli is the enemy.

"What proof do you have? Anything physical to show what you say is true?" Splinter asked.

"Go in Mikey's room. That should be all the physical evidence you would need. He doesn't need a lecture, he doesn't need to be scolded. He needs his dad." Leo said.

Both hands planted firmly on his desk, Splinter took a breath. One more chance. One more try to prove his son wasn't lying. To prove his little Michelangelo was still there.

"Alright."

Walking down the hall felt longer than Splinter ever intended it to be. The sun glaring through the windows and brightening up the hall would feel so welcoming and warm, but instead it felt eerie and cold. When he made it to Mikey's door, he hesitated slightly. He couldn't remember the last time he entered his sons room. He felt oddly guilty for not checking up on his son more but quickly shook it off as he entered the room.

The smell was odd. Almost stuffy and suffocating. The light filled the room to show Raphael laying on his back, lightly snoring. On his side tuck neatly beside him was Michelangelo, shell facing the door. A part of Splinter wanted to leave the peace, but knew his two eldest would protest. With light footsteps, he walked over to the bed, shaking Raphael lightly.

Raph flinch and the feel of being woken up, cracking his eyes to the light.

"Master Splinter?" He croaked. Splinter waved at him to move over. Raph moved his body away from Mikey's. Mikey quickly noticed the missing body next to him.

"Nnh.." He moaned opening his eyes.

"Michelangelo?" Splinter said quietly. Mikey picked up the voice and flipped over to see his father crouched down to his level.

"F-father. What are you doing?" Mikey asked, rubbing his eyes. Splinter was going to explain but caught quick glimpse of the clad covered wrists.

"What happened to your arms?" He asked. Mikey quickly stiffened, forgetting completely of the nights events.

"I-I Uh.." He stuttered, suddenly shaking. Splinter saw this sudden distress and felt guilt swim over him. He felt this was the first time he actually looked at his son and actually looked at him. Slowly, he reached out and grabbed one of his wrists. He could feel Mikey trying to take his arm back but Splinter would let him. With care he rubbed his thumb over the bandage and could feel the wound. Dread fell through him. His wrists were sliced.

Splinters head quickly shot up to look at his son.

"Michelangelo…Why?" Splinter asked with pain in his voice. Mikey was frozen. He was faced with his father with a sin that was unforgivable. He knew he would be shunned, he knew he could be banished or even worse, killed. His heart started to race, his body shuddering like leaves in the wind. He felt the tears start to fall.

"I'm sorry father…I'm sorry I couldn't be a better son." He choked out. Splinter couldn't speak, ignoring the headache, the pain in his knees from where he was kneeling. All he could do was stare at his son and see, now finally see the pain and suffering his youngest has been harboring.

Behind Mikey, Raphael was moving, forcing Mikey to sit up straight.

"Mikey, show him." Raph told him. Mikey shook his head vigorously refusing to show whatever Raphael was talking about.

"Michelangelo show me." Splinter said looking up at Raphael. Although the light was dim, Raphael's burning embers shined through and he could see the anger and hatred within them. But who were they towards?

Mikey took a few breaths. He reached a shaky hand up to the collar of his shirt and slowly, he pulled down his shirt revealing the skin underneath. Splinter held his breath.

Scars. So many deep, wounded scars covered his sons body. The Plastron covered with deep lacerations. Why had he not seen these before? Why were these never brought to his attention. He looked up to see Mikey's face. He could see the shame the utter pain in the creases in his face. He was so terrified. He was so ashamed.

Splinter placed a hand on his cheek, Mikey flinched back , fearing to face his father.

"Michelangelo look at me." Splinter demanded softly. Mikey swallowed and looked at his father. His eyes red from the lack of sleep and the tears. Splinter bit his lip. He needed to suck up his pride, he need to open his mind for once and believe that the enemy was someone he trusted most.

"Was it Master Fueli who did this to you?" He asked quietly. His name was enough to make Mikey burst into tears, collapsing into himself and falling into the arms of his father.

"I'm sorry.." Mikey cried, muffled in the chest of his father. Splinter held on tight, heart breaking. He didn't believe him. He didn't want to. He ignored the signs, he ignored his pleas. He felt guilty.

"Michelangelo I need to apologize to you." Splinter spoke quietly, small tears forming in the corner of his eyes. "I'm sorry I couldn't be a better father to you." He spoke quietly. He allowed Mikey to hold onto him for a little while longer till Splinter gently pushed him away.

"Michelangelo I promise you, you do not need to live in fear anymore." Splinter told him, kissing him gently on the forehead before leaving the room only to be met with his two eldest in the hallway. Splinter was ready for the "I told you so" response but received nothing.

"Leonardo, Donatello, I need you both to tell me everything you know. The students in my ranks, everything he has done to Michelangelo, all of it." Splinter spoke.

"He will be punished."

A/N: OH MY GOSH HI GUYS! No I didn't die I have been incredibly caught up with school and work but I am now on Summer break so I will be able to update quicker this time around!
till next time!

-F