Chapter Seven:

Miwa, a voice said. Strong, commanding. But wise. Get up. Her mind trudged through the sticky fog, trying to make sense of it. Of anything. There was a dull ache in her head. Stinging sensations on her arms and chest. She felt her eyes open, but there was still only darkness. The sounds of whispering in Japanese could be heard somewhere in front of her, and she tried to sit up. Frantically, she attempted to remember how she got there. Or anything, really, but she couldn't. The more aware she became, the more she realized that she was badly injured. Her leg was broken, and her hair was crusted with blood.

The gears of the lock could be heard turning, and she coiled away from the light as the door opened. When she looked up, a figure appeared in the door, blocking the view. She assessed her surroundings in the light that was available. If she moved about a foot to the right, she'd be able to prop herself up on the wall. He stepped in and she clenched her jaw.

"The turtles are dead," he said.

And just like that, she remembered.

The explosion at the apartment complex, their injuries, the lair…

She shook her head.

"You're lying."

"I watched them perish in the fire. They are gone."

"You're lying!"

"Your little friends are dead. And finally, we can be a family again."

"You will never be my family!" she shouted.

He raised a hand and struck her across her left cheek, and she could feel it instantly begin to swell. Saki crouched to her level, snarling, and grabbed her by her armor.

"I am the only family you ever had, Karai! I raised you! You are my daughter!"

She spit in his eye then, and he dropped her. She grinned.

"You insolent little- foot soldiers! Take her to the lab! Now!"

The men came in, taking her by her hands and feet as she squirmed. She managed to get a leg free, and kicked one square in his face, his nose crushing inward and upward. The man slumped to the ground immediately. The other one growled in her ear, pinning her arms behind her back, and shoved her against the wall. Her swollen cheek broke open as her bone snapped underneath her eye. Karai felt a sharp pain in her neck, before her eyes began to droop.

Elsewhere

Michelangelo stretched, and peeled his eyes open, yawning as he sat up.

It was early.

The sun was still starting to come up, and a cool breeze made him shiver as he threw the sheets off. He sauntered down to the kitchen quietly, as to not wake anyone else. When he opened the fridge to inspect what to make, he realized there wasn't much. But eggs and toast would work for now. He made a note to go get groceries later. A light fog settled on the yard outside the tiny kitchen window, and he watched as the sun came through it. What a beautiful morning, he thought. As the pan heated up, he reached for the old coffee maker and the grounds. Don will probably want-

The pot clattered against the linoleum, dumping coffee everywhere, as a wave of grief knocked the air out of him. He gripped the counter and took a deep breath. How could he have forgotten? He'd watched as the lair lit up in flames. How could he have-

"Mikey?"

He spun around at the sound, to see Leonardo standing in the doorway. Tears stung his eyes, and he crouched next to the mess. The turtle in blue kneeled before him, scooping up what he could. He didn't say a word; just looked up at his youngest brother questioningly.

"B-butterfingers, amirite? Heh heh."

He merely nodded, extending a hand, and putting it on Mikey's shoulder. Since they'd arrived at the farmhouse, Leo had said next to nothing. And when asked questions, would promptly answer with single-word statements. Most of the time, he didn't answer at all. Late at night, he would sneak into the barn and be there all hours of the night. He did the minimal he had to do to help out, but otherwise sat in the same spot of the couch all day, staring out the window. It was a miracle that Don had thought to stock up on medical supplies the last time they'd stayed there. Mikey knew next to nothing about all the medical stuff Donatello did, so he had to look up a lot of how to take care of everyone's injuries (including his own). It wasn't long before Leo gave up his makeshift crutches. It wasn't like he moved much anyway. Still, Mikey was glad to see that he was healing quickly. April slept most of the day, getting up periodically to use the bathroom or eat, what little she could stomach. And even then, she needed help. She was shaky on her feet, and it would be a long time before her body would heal correctly. She cried a lot, though, at night. He could hear her across the hall. He checked on her once, only to be greeted with a lamp shattering against the wall beside his head, and her shouting at him. This is all your fault! You didn't save them! He elected not to disturb her at night any longer. The one he was most worried about was Casey. He refused to eat anything, or even move. He stared catatonically ahead, whispering constantly to himself. The same thing, over and over; I never told him.

Mikey finished breakfast, making plates for everyone. He kept his in the microwave, and made his way to the living room first. Leonardo looked up at him when he set the plate down on the coffee table.

"Eggs and toast, bro. Mikey-style. The best of the best. Just how you like it!"

Leonardo smiled up at him and nodded, still saying nothing.

He then started up the stairs, knocking softly on April's door.

"Come in," she said, barely above a whisper.

It was cracked, so he used his knee to push it open. She was sitting against the headboard with a book in her hand. He smiled, walking toward the bed.

"I made some eggs and toast," he said. "It's my best work. I've never made a batch so good." He set the plate down on the nightstand, and walked over, checking out her bandages and vitals. He went to the window to open the blinds.

"Wait," she said. "Can we leave those shut? I have a headache."

"Oh yeah, no prob. So, you wanna go for a walk today?"

She looked up at him exasperatedly.

"Mikey, I-I can't-"

"It's all good," he said, putting his hands up in surrender. "Whenever you're ready."

She nodded.

"Let me know when you're done with your plate. But try to eat, okay?"

"Yeah…"

He smiled and closed the door, taking a deep breath before knocking his knuckles against the other door. There was no answer, but he pushed it open anyway.

"Casey?"

The blinds were pulled shut, and he faced away from him.

"Casey, I have some eggs for you. You awake?"

He rounded the corner of the bed, and glanced down, to see him staring at the wall, tears making a puddle beneath his head. Mikey set down the plate, and put a hand on his shoulder.

"Casey? Can you eat something for me?"

He shook his head slowly.

"C'mon, for me?"

Again, he shook his head.

"He'd want you to."

Casey's brow turned up, and he knew he shouldn't have said it. But what was done was done. Mikey set the eggs and toast on the table and reached for him. He slung an arm underneath Casey's, and to his dismay, sat him up.

"Just a few bites. And then maybe a shower-"

"No," he croaked.

"You're right. That's pushing it. I'm sorry. Here…" He brought the plate over, and set it in his lap. "Take your time." After a few minutes, he picked up the fork, poking at the eggs for a bit. Mikey hated to see him like this. He barely recognized Casey Jones without his 'tough guy' attitude. He knew grief had many faces, but… he felt guilty for thinking it was 'out of character', so to speak. Casey raised the utensil up to his lips and took a bite of the eggs. Then another, and another. Making progress, the turtle in orange thought. When about half of the small serving was gone, he set it all aside. Casey took a deep breath and looked over at him.

"I never told him," he said.

"Never told him what?"

"That I loved him."

Elsewhere

"Stockman."

The man jumped and spun around, holding a small cage-like box.

"Yes, master?"

"Is it ready?"

"Yes."

Shredder turned and watched as his men buckled an unconscious Karai into the chair. A strap held her head in place, as well as her arms and feet. Why did it have to come to this?, he thought.

"We will wait for her to wake up. And then you may proceed."

Stockman nodded, hands shaking, and scuttled away.

When she came to, Karai squinted around the room. She knew where she was. She'd been there before. The lab wasn't a place she cared to spend too much time in; in fact, she'd avoided it at all costs when she'd lived there. She suddenly remembered Saki sneering as he told her of her- of their family's demise. She hoped they were alive; but the little hope she had was dwindling fast. A blast of that caliber should've killed her. Do not blame yourself, my daughter. The voice again. But how can I- She shuddered as the air in the room shifted.

"I will give you two choices…" He came out of the shadows, looking smug. "You can promise to stay here, under my supervision, and become my second in command, as is your rightful place. Or…" He nodded and Stockman came forward holding the box. A pit began to form in her stomach, and she gritted her teeth. "You can do it the hard way."

Stockman pulled the brainworm out of the box, and sweat formed on her lip. She tried to free her wrists.

"No!" she said. The thing shrieked and she squeezed her eyes shut. "You can't make me!"

"Ah, but creature, is it not?"

that is the point, is it not?"

She struggled against her binds again, with the glimmer of hope that it would help, though she knew it wouldn't. Her pulse quickened as the twitchy man stepped closer.

"Back the fuck up, Stockman! He's using you. Don't you see that? He doesn't care about your work! He doesn't-"

"Stockman!" Shredder shouted.

"He doesn't plan to keep you around, should you fail him, either. Remember Fish Face?"

His eyes went wide and she watched as a drip of sweat rolled down the side of his head.

"Stockman. Now."

"I bet you just thought he was on some errand. I bet you thought that he wasn't strapped onto a rock and left in the heat-"

"STOCKMAN!"

"I bet you thought that there was finally someone who appreciated the science you do… If you wanna call it that. Donatello could-" she gritted her teeth. "Donatello could run circles around you in this lab. You are nothing compared to-"

"I DEMAND YOU OBEY ME AT ONCE!"

He jumped at the booming voice, nearly dropping the box, and walked around the chair. She started squirming again, and he looked at her pityingly from the other side of the room. There wasn't any point in struggling. She knew that. Still, the familiar sound of the worm screeching made her feel sick, and suddenly she was racked with a searing jolt of pain in her ear, barely hearing her own screams over the thing shrieking and-

Leonardo bolted upright from the couch, drenched in sweat. His heart hammered in his chest, and he fought to understand where he was. It was dark, and the wind howled from outside. Saki's lab melted away, though the scent of sterile metal lingered. A light flicked on upstairs, a familiar voice whispering.

"Leo?"

"I'm okay. Bad dream."

"Me too." Quietly, Mikey crept down, heading toward the kitchen. He worriedly put a hand on his brother's shoulder as he passed.

She's alive, he thought.

"Warm milk?" he asked. Leo nodded, warily sitting down.

"And aspirin?" He clutched his head, and slipped his mask off.

"That bad, huh?"

Normally, Leonardo would wait to turn to meds for relief. Instead, he'd seek herbal remedies and meditation. But he didn't think those things would help him this time.

The sound of ceramic against glass, and the beep of the microwave could be heard, before Mikey opened another door, shuffling around in the pill cupboard. The machine dinged, there was more shuffling, and he came in with the two mugs. Carefully, he sat down, and handed him the pills. Then the milk. The steam rolled through the air, and he inhaled.

He bowed to Michelangelo, and he bowed back, looking slightly uncomfortable.

You must go to her.

Leonardo looked at his youngest brother pityingly. How could he leave him here?

You must go, my son.

"What were you dreaming about?" he asked. Mikey lowered the mug from his lips.

"I was… surrounded by Squirrel-a-noids, in the sewer. And I kept calling out for you and R… Raph and Don, but no one came. So I kept running; straight to the lair. It was on fire, and everyone was inside, yelling for me to help them, but the Squirrel-a-noids pinned me down, and I just had to sit there and-and watch…"

Leo swallowed hard and put a hand on his shoulder. Tears gathered in the corners of Michelangelo's eyes and his heart ached for his little brother. He's been so strong for everyone…

"What about you?"

"Oh, just… about the fire. I-I watched it happen and I couldn't-"

"Nobody could've."

They sat in silence for awhile, Leo resting his elbows on his knees and glancing out at the yard before them, where crickets chirped. He would leave when he knew Mikey was asleep.

"I'm really worried about them," he said, leaning back into the couch. The turtle in blue looked back at him, suddenly struck by how old and worn out he looked. His eyes were bloodshot, and he looked thin. "April… sh-she keeps this science book with her… It was Don's. She never puts it down. And Casey, he…" He trailed off, and Leo could see there was something he wasn't telling him. The brother in orange yawned and stretched. "You wanna see if there's some Crognard re-runs on?"

"Sure," he said, smiling. He tossed the remote to him.

After awhile of flipping through channels, they did in fact find some re-runs. Not long after, Mikey began snoring.

Now is the time, Leonardo. You must leave.

"Hai, Sensei."

He pulled a blanket over his brother and grabbed his bag. The door creaked as he stepped out into the chilly night. He took a last look at the old house before disappearing into the woods.

Hey y'all! I'm so sorry that it's been so long. And I know it's kinda short, but I have a plan! Thank you again for reading and feel free to comment or give suggestions!