Hello, everyone! Sorry for the wait on a new chapter. A few things happened this past month. My last grandparent died a few weeks ago, so I was pretty down about that. School has also been taking up a lot of my time, especially with this being the last week of the semester. I'm also having a bit of writer's block sadly. Other than all that, I've been hanging in there. I hope you're enjoying this story so far and I look forward to bringing you more TMNT stories in the future. Not sure when the next chapter is going to be up, though.

Chapter 9: Bruised and Battered Master Splinter

"Who does Leo think he is?!" Mikey growled as he marched through the sewers. "If he thinks he can scare me into believing that I'm 'destroying time', then he's wrong!" He kicked at a busted can and it tumbled away into the darkness. He continued his angry march as he looked for his 'little brothers'. He wasn't really paying attention to where he was going since he was so angry and found himself at a dead end. He sighed and turned around. Wasn't there another path?

He soon lost interest in being angry and was more concerned about his surroundings. He scratched his head in confusion as he looked around. This part of the sewers didn't look familiar and he was getting more lost as he continued down a maze of tunnels. He felt hopeful as he noticed a manhole up ahead.

"A-ha, if I can get topside then I will have a better idea as to where I am!"

He was about to climb the ladder when he thought he heard something. He quickly pulled out his nunchucks from his belt, preparing himself for whatever danger may approach.

"Michelangelo..." It was Splinter and he was covered in bruises and blood! Michelangelo quickly came to his aid and held him up.

"Master Splinter! What happened? Are you alright?"

"We must...get back... to the lair!" Splinter said with much effort. He was very weak and could barely walk. Mikey thought he could hear men shouting and looked around for anywhere they could hide in the shadows. Whomever was chasing Splinter would find them if they continued on at their slow pace.

"Hang on, Master Splinter. I'm going to get us out of here!"

The Turtle put his rat father on his back and began running for shelter. Since he had no clue where they were in the sewers, Mikey had to rely on his other animal instincts to find the lair.

"This is just like training!" he desperately told himself. "Don't really on sight! Use your other senses!"

He turned a corner and stopped in his tracks There were three men dressed in black blocking his path; Foot ninja! So they must be the ones hunting Splinter!

Mikey quickly turned around and ran down another tunnel. He couldn't risk fighting while protecting Splinter. He ducked when he heard bullets whizzing past.

"Guns too?! Are you kidding me?!" he yelled. He held on to Splinter tightly as he felt the rat slipping out of his grip. No, he wasn't going to lose him!

He was pretty sure he had outrun the Foot after a few more turns and could no longer hear them following. But that didn't mean they weren't still searching the sewers. He found a secluded, dark area and carefully put Splinter down. He listened. It was quiet. Almost too quiet...

His sniffed the air. The scent of human was still in the sewers, but Mikey could also smell the familiar scent of the lair as well. They were getting close.

Hearing Splinters moan of pain caught the Turtle's attention. He needed medical attention. He knelt down beside him.

"I'm here, Father."

"Michelangelo...," Splinter looked over at him weakly. "Forget about me. I cannot put you and your brothers at risk."

"I'm not going to leave you," Mikey said as he shook his head. "I can't."

Splinter raised his hand and placed it on his son's shoulder. "You must."

"No!" Mikey protested, holding his master's hand. "We can make it back to the lair. I can patch you up. We're going to be okay."

"I'm only slowing you down!" Splinter insisted. "Go back to the lair and protect your brothers. I cannot allow Shredder to hurt you!"

Mikey knew Splinter was too weak to fight. He couldn't leave him.

"I'm sorry, father...I cannot obey you. I'm staying here."

Splinter's eyebrows furrowed and he looked as if he might scold Michelangelo again, but he then smiled.

"You are very brave, my son."

Mikey felt a sense of pride hearing that from Splinter. He was concerned when splinter closed his eyes, but relaxed when he realized that the rat had only lost consciousness.

"Don't worry, Master. I'm going to get you out of here!" he swore, holding the rat close. He made sure once again that no one was around. He then picked up Splinter and carried him back to the lair.

After returning to the lair, Mikey began patching up Master Splinter. He wrapped the injuries and waited for his master to wake. Michelangelo had gotten nicked by a bullet, but it wasn't a deep wound and he cleaned himself up easily.

Now that he knew that the Foot had been chasing Splinter, it made since as to why he would not come home right away. But why would Splinter do such a thing alone?

Moreover, Mikey also knew that Splinter will not be happy to know that the tots were gone. He knew that Splinter would want him to find them, but Mikey couldn't leave Splinter like this.

When Splinter regained consciousness, Mikey was there to greet him.

"Michelangelo...?"

"Hey, you're awake," the Turtle smiled. "I managed to bring you back to the lair and patch you up. We're safe for now."

Splinter blinked a few times as he took in Mikey's words and nodded. "That is good." He lifted his hand to Mikey's check. "You did well, my son."

"Aww, shucks," Mikey blushed a bit. "I only did what was necessary. Besides, I couldn't leave you out there alone."

"And your brothers? Are they safe?"

"Oh...uh...yeah!" Mikey said quickly. "They're great! Caused a bit of trouble while you were gone, but it wasn't anything I couldn't handle!"

Splinter noticed the hesitation in Mikey's voice. "Then where are they?"

"Oh...they're...uh...sleeping! Probably shouldn't wake them. It's still pretty early."

Splinter frowned and Mikey could tell his wasn't buying it. "Michelangelo..."

Mikey tried acting innocent, but the pressure was building and he finally cracked. He burst into tears and knelt down beside Splinter, begging for forgiveness. He was never good at keeping secrets. Splinter couldn't understand the Turtle's rambling at first.

"Perhaps you should slow down and tell me everything."

Mikey took a deep breath and told Splinter that the tots had sneaked out before he had even known they were gone. He went out to look for them and found Splinter instead.

Splinter listened, but was not pleased. He forced himself to stand and began walking to the door.

"Where are you going?" Mikey asked, blocking his path. "You have to wait for your wounds to heal."

"I'm going out to search for your brothers, Michelangelo. Shredder could still be out there and he will kill them if he finds them."

"But...Let me come with you at least."

"No, Michelangelo! You will stay here. You have proven to be irresponsible and your brothers may be hurt because of that incapability of protecting them. I am very disappointed in you!"

Mikey was stunned by Splinter's words. Even though he was sure his father didn't mean it, it was obvious he was upset. Mikey hung his head in shame.

"I'm sorry, Master."

Splinter paused for a moment, but he left the lair. Mikey was left alone.