Mikey wasn't sure how long he'd been floating in this darkness, or even how he'd gotten there. Everything that happened before now was a near blank, only brief snippets of memory like a dream he struggled to remember. He hadn't minded much at first… the dark and quiet was almost calming. The emotional chaos of the past week seemed to have floated away, replaced by this gentle silence. But now, being Mikey, the situation was growing somewhat dull. It just wasn't in him to sit and stay still. But right now, he wasn't even sure how he was supposed to move. His feet didn't seem to be touching ground, and there was nothing around him but this black stillness. Leaning forward, he reached out, but touched nothing.

His brow furrowing in a frown, Mikey set his jaw in frustration. Some solitude and quiet was nice even for him occasionally, but it always got to be too much pretty quickly. As he continued to puzzle over what to do, something seemed to drift through the darkness. Mikey froze, looking around. It wasn't so much a sound as it was… a feeling. Something tried and true, something that brought him a comfort he couldn't explain.

That made up the young turtle's mind. Whatever he was looking for, he couldn't find it here. He had to find a way out, a way to the source of this feeling. He reached out again, straining his senses for something, anything…

There! It was someone's voice, saying his name. He focused, listening close.

"… so sorry, Mikey."

That's Donnie…

"We know we screwed up, bro, n' if ya can't forgive us, we'll live w' that."

Raph, what're you talking about? Why wouldn't I forgive you guys?

"But we'll do better. We swear that to you, little brother. We'll do whatever it takes to fix this, to prove how much you mean to us."

Leo…

As Mikey processed these words, running them through his head as he tried to remember what they might be talking about, he saw something. It wasn't much, just what looked like a very brief flash of light. He squinted, trying to see it again. What would a light here mean? Was someone looking for him? His brothers? Splinter?

But why would Sensei be looking for me? Would he even really want to?

At that moment, he saw the light again, brighter this time. It was a soft, warm point of golden light, like a gentle ray of sunshine. Mikey squinted, realizing there was a figure in the center… a familiar figure. As it moved toward him, features began to become visible, and Mikey's eyes widened.

"Sensei?" he whispered. He wasn't sure if he spoke loud enough for anyone to actually hear him, but it seemed Splinter had, because he saw the old rat's gentle smile. Suddenly, Mikey felt the sensation of solid ground beneath his feet, and he took a few uncertain steps toward Splinter.

"Sensei, what… why're you here?"

He saw his father's smile falter just a little, but his expression remained gentle.

"Did you believe I would not come?"

The young turtle blinked, taken aback by how sad he sounded. And now that Splinter was closer, Mikey could see that same sadness in his eyes.

"No," he said slowly. "No, it's not that, I just…"

He looked around before directing his gaze back at Splinter.

"What… what happened? How'd I get here, wherever here is?"

The rat's brow furrowed in concern.

"You do not remember… what happened last night?"

Mikey frowned, thinking. Brief flashes began playing in his mind, few and blurred at first. Then they grew clearer, and then it all came rushing back. Mikey gasped softly, stepping back as the full force of the memories struck him. He looked up and his heart twisted; Splinter had a stricken look that Mikey had only seen a few times. He wanted to run to him, but shame kept him frozen in place. Closing his eyes, he wrapped his arms around himself and sank to his knees.

"S-sensei, I… what I said last night, I… I'm sorry, I didn't mean it, I… I just…"

A soft hand rested against his cheek, and he looked up with brimming eyes. He felt his jaw go slack when he saw that Splinter's eyes were wet too.

"No, my son… you owe me no apology. Rather, I am the one who should ask your forgiveness."

Mikey kept kneeling, looking at Splinter, and the realization came to him. His sensei didn't look so stricken because he was hurt by what Mikey said… he was afraid that Mikey was rejecting him. A lump rose in the young turtle's throat, and he lifted his own hand to place it over Splinter's.

"Sensei, I…"

The rat shook his head and Mikey stopped talking, allowing him to go on.

"I understand now that I have caused you a great deal of pain, unintended as it was. Though to say I am sorry may be painfully inadequate, it is all I can do. And I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me."

The orange banded turtle looked at his sensei with wide eyes, wanting to reply but not sure what to say. Finally, he managed a soft reply.

"I just… I thought you were… ashamed of me."

Splinter bowed his head, ears drooping.

"No," he said, his voice firm despite the slight quiver. "Never. I understand now why you believe that, and I do not know if I can ever repair the damage my ignorance has done, but…"

He drew in a deep breath, then lifted his overbright eyes to meet Mikey's.

"But I hope… you will let me try."

For a while, Mikey found himself unable to reply. All he could do was gaze into those familiar dark eyes, and memories began stirring in his mind. Of those same eyes looking down at him with tenderness as a gentle voice soothed away the fear brought on by childhood nightmares. His brothers, crowding around to add their own ministrations. A tremulous smile coming to his small face as he nestled into his family's warm embrace, trusting they would all keep him safe, knowing he was loved more than life.

Now, despite the difficulties and confusion of the past few weeks, Mikey realized that he felt the same way now. Despite their mistakes, despite their flaws, his family loved him just as much now as when he was little. And Grace… she had looked past his appearance, seen and come to love who he was inside. They all loved him… and needed him as much as he needed them. Looking into the eyes of his sensei, his father, Mikey gave him a bright smile and nodded. He could see Splinter's composure unraveling, and before he could blink the rat was kneeling in front of him, wrapping him in a tight embrace. Feeling a lump rise in his throat, the orange banded turtle returned it just as fiercely.

"Love you, Papa," he whispered. He heard Splinter's breath hitch; Mikey hadn't called him that since he was very small.

"And I love you, my little one. With all my heart."

Mikey's smile widened, a few tears escaping his closed eyes.

"I know."

And for the first time in years, he realized he didn't doubt that… that he never had.

So, so sorry for the long wait! Working makes keeping up with personal projects a little harder, but I'll do my best to make updates fairly regular.