A/N: Here's the next chapter - a little early. Tear jerker warning!

Mikey frowned as they walked up to the tiny building. He wasn't sure what it was doing this far from the center of the capitol. He hadn't even realized it was a building until they were mere feet from it. Like Dyna's home it seemed to be camouflaged to look like the surrounding terrain of dirt and rocks. The only thing that showed it to be some kind of structure was the door. Kala touched the symbol carved into the door's face reverently before opening it. When she did, he felt the blast of cold air from inside. Before them were stairs, leading down into darkness.

He paused. "I hope this isn't where Dracula shows up."

Kala couldn't help the small chuckle as she took his hand. "Nope, no Dracula." She started to pull him down the steps.

He followed, keeping an eye on her as they descended. "What about mummies?"

"Mikey…"

"What? There're always mummies in dark underground places."

Kala shook her head. She knew he was only trying to lighten the mood and not think about what they'd been told less than an hour ago. Instead of letting him ramble, she began to explain. "We learned a long time ago not to keep memorials on the surface. So, instead of cemeteries like they have on Earth, we use catacombs. They're buried deep enough that even if there is an attack on the surface, these places are still safe."

At the mention of how deep they were, Mikey glanced back up the staircase. They were already at least fifty feet from the surface. It was easy enough to go down, but he had a feeling Kala wasn't going to be able to make the climb back out. He'd need to carry her back to the surface, so she wouldn't aggravate her condition. He frowned as they finally came to level ground again. Here there was more light and a cool breeze seemed to flow through the place. Several tunnels split off from the entrance. As Kala started down one, he hung close. A person could easily get lost in a place like this. Along the walls of the passage were tiny plaques bunched together in groups. He guessed they were clustered together in families. A few more turns and Kala finally stopped beside a wall. She ran her fingers across two plaques with names. "My mother and father." He frowned, stepping close and wrapping an arm around her shoulders. She sighed leaning into him. "I wish you could have met them."

He kissed her brow. "Me too. That way I could tell them what an awesome daughter they have."

Kala's smile was weak. "It's been so long. Sometimes it's hard to remember them."

Mikey sighed softly. He knew how she felt. Some days it was even a struggle for him to remember Master Splinter. But it had to be harder on her. She'd lost her parents long before they'd lost their father.

"I wish I could have brought Kaz here. I wish I could have shown him Neutrino. It is a part of his heritage."

"We still can. There's still plenty of time." He wrapped his other arm around her waist.

She turned to him, her eyes full of sadness. "Oh, my sweet Michelangelo. I know this is hard for you to accept. But I know it's true. You know it's true too."

"No." He shook his head vehemently.

She caught his face and turned his gaze to hers. "You've never been able to lie to me, Mikey. You know our time together is short."

Tears began to trickle down his cheeks. "Please, Kala, don't…"

"I want to spend what time I have left with my family, giving them as much love as I can. But promise me one thing, one day you'll bring him here. So, he can at least see Neutrino and see where his grandparents are buried."

He swallowed hard, his whole body shuddering. His voice was a mere whisper in that dark underground place of death and decay. "I promise."

When Mikey and Kala arrived back at Dyna's they found Dr. Trill seated in the living room with Don, Sarah, Dask, Zak, and Dyna. The doctor stood as they entered and approached them. "Mrs. Hamato, I was told you're leaving."

Kala frowned. "Yes."

His smile was soft. "I can understand why. I wish there was more I could do for you."

Mikey frowned as well. "Me too, but I do want to thank you for all your help. I know you and Donnie have been working really hard."

"Oh, don't think I'm quitting. I'm going to continue to run simulations and even see if I can find her a match for a lung transplant." He turned to gesture at Donnie. "Your brother has been kind enough to provide me with a great deal of resources related to transplants. If I am able to adapt the techniques to Neutrino physiology, it will be one of the first major medical breakthroughs we've had in the past century." He placed a hand on Kala's shoulder. "And if we can accomplish this fast enough and with enough accuracy, then it may be in time to save your life."

"He's promised to keep us up to date on his progress." Don held an electronic tablet in his hands. "And we'll continue to work together from home. We aren't quitting, we're just changing our tactics a little."

Mikey gave a solemn nod. "I know you aren't, bro. I'm sorry about earlier."

Sarah sat up a little beside Don. "It's understandable, Mikey. We all love our Kala very much." She smiled weakly at the other girl.

Kala returned the weak smile, before turning back to Dr. Trill. "I don't know how we can ever repay you for what you've done."

It was the doctor's turn to frown. "It has been my pleasure. If there is anything you need, just let me know." He gave the others a nod. "I should let you go. I know you are anxious to get home."

Don stood and offered his hand. "Thank you for bringing the supplies and the serum."

Dr. Trill took his hand firmly. "It was no trouble. Keep me informed. It's been refreshing working with a mind as brilliant as yours."

Don smiled. "Like wise."

Dr. Trill started for the door and Mikey followed. "I'll walk you out." They left the crowded living room for the small entryway.

Dr. Trill stopped just outside the door, his round face dropping into a sorrowful expression. "I'm sorry."

Mikey frowned, trying to press down his disappointment and fear. "You did everything you could."

The doctor shook his head. "I'm afraid it wasn't enough though." He shook Mikey's hand as well. "Goodbye and good luck."

Mikey merely nodded as the man walked away. Sighing, he returned to the living room to find everyone saying goodbye to Dyna. The old woman seemed truly sad to see them go. In the time they'd been there, no one had come to visit their elderly hostess. It was possible there wasn't anyone around that would. But perhaps that would change. It seemed that she'd made some new friends with Dask and Zak. They each said their thankyous and farewells, then Don signaled Mira to open the portal.

Zak hugged Kala tightly. "I wish you didn't have to go." He took in a tight breath that choked in his throat. "I wish…things had turned out differently."

She pecked his cheek and then wrapped her arms around Dask. He frowned. "Yeah, you're like our little sis. We love you."

She stepped back to meet his eyes and touched his cheek. "I know. I love you guys too." Turning away from them, she swiped at her eyes and took Mikey's hand.

Dask met his gaze over her head. "Take care of her."

Mikey nodded. "You know I will." And then they followed Don and Sarah into the portal. Stepping through the glowing doorway filled them with both a sense of failure and relief. Waiting in the lab was their large family, who immediately embraced them.

"Mom! Dad!" Mira rushed forward to hug her parents. "We missed you!"

Beside her, Kaz did much the same, wrapping his mother in strong arms. "Mom…" Mikey smiled at them and Kaz smiled back. "Hey, Dad." He released his mother with one arm to give his father an embrace as well. "We're glad you're back."

Mikey stepped back a hand still on his son's shoulder. "We're glad to be back too." Kaz could tell his father was in no better state than he had been when they'd left for Neutrino all those weeks ago. It worried him for many reasons, but most of all for his mother. He knew that it meant they hadn't found what they were looking for there.

Donnie cleared his throat getting everyone's attention. "We have a lot to tell you. But I think it should wait until we're settled in."

Leo nodded. "I agree. Let's meet in the living room in twenty minutes."

As the room began to clear, Don caught Mike's arm. "We should probably administer the serum after the meeting. The sooner she starts on it the better."

Mikey gave an affirming nod, before turning back to his son. Kaz had picked up their duffle and slung it over his shoulder while Ona was hugging Kala. She grinned as she stepped back. "There's something we want to show you!"

Kala raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"

Ona nearly bounced with excitement. "Come on!"

Kaz chuckled as his wife dragged his mother from the room. He and Mikey trailed behind them. "Hey, you guys finished the elevator while we were gone." Mikey ran a hand across the rod iron cage as they entered.

Kaz grinned. "Yeah, but that's not what we wanted to show you."

It was Mikey's turn to raise an eye-ridge. He could tell his son was just as excited as Ona. They exited the elevator and started up the hall, but stopped when they reached Kaz and Ona's bedroom. Opening the door, Ona flipped on the light and stepped aside so the others could see.

Kala's mouth hung open as she took a few steps in, making sure her eyes were not deceiving her. She turned to stare at her son and daughter-in-law. "Is that…?" Ona nodded with bright eyes. Tears welled in Kala's eyes to quickly spill over. She threw her arms around Kaz's neck. "My baby is having a baby!"

Mikey smiled and for a brief moment he could feel the pressure in his chest lessen. He pulled Ona into an embrace. "I'm so happy for you, squirt." She giggled as he ruffled her hair. Lifting his head he smiled at his son. "For both of you." He couldn't suppress the grin. "It's about time."

Kaz chuckled. "Says you." Kala suddenly took in a choked breath, drawing their attention to her. He frowned, releasing his hold on her and stepping back to look down at her. "Mom, are you okay?"

Mikey's frown was much deeper. He took Kala gently from his son, walking her up the hall to their bedroom. It had been several hours since she'd last used the oxygen pump. Kaz and Ona followed them and watched as Mikey took the pump from their duffle and plugged it into an outlet beside the bed. Kala slipped the mask on as he started the small unit. He squeezed her hand, exchanging a sad look with her.

"Dad?" Kaz took a few steps closer. "Why did you come home, if they hadn't helped her yet?"

Mikey didn't answer, instead dropping his gaze to the carpeted floor. Kala squeezed his hand harder, responding in his place, her voice muffled by the mask. "I wanted to come home."

Kaz shook his head in disbelief. "But why? If you're still sick. Why not stay until they helped? Wasn't that the whole point of going to Neutrino?"

"They can't help her." Mikey's tone was filled with bitterness.

Kala shook her head. "That's not entirely true!" She began to cough and Mikey looked up at her with concern, moving to sit on the bed beside her and gently rub her back.

Kala's appearance was really beginning to scare Ona. "What does she mean?"

Mikey frowned. "They were able to come up with a cure for the pneumonia. But…"

"But what?" Kaz took a few more steps towards them when his father didn't answer right away. "Dad, tell me."

Mikey finally lifted his head to meet his son's troubled gaze. The heartache in his own gaze must have been thoroughly evident, because Kaz took in a sharp breath. "But the damage has already been done and they have no way to fix it." Mikey bit his lip, but managed to push the rest out. "Donnie says she only has six months."

Kaz turned a deathly shade of pale green, his eyes wide as he began to tremble. "No…" Mikey gave the slightest of nods and Kaz felt his knees buckled under him. He sank to the floor in front of his mother and wrapped his arms around her. For several moments, his body shook with silent sobs. "I love you, Mom."

The tears Kala had so valiantly been fighting for the better part of the day broke free. "I love you too, honey." She hugged him close. Mikey stroked his son's shell. He'd known this was going to be hard on him. That's why he'd dreaded telling him the truth.

Near the door, Ona stood with her hands pressed over her mouth and big tears rolling down her face. She stumbled forward to sit on the other side of Kala, who immediately wrapped an arm around the younger girl. "It'll be okay." But Kala's words were tainted with her harsh breathing. Things were definitely not okay.

K-three frowned as he watched Donnie set his and Sarah's bags on their bed and begin to methodically sort their contents into piles. "You didn't accomplish what you went for, did you?"

Don did not turn to look at his son-in-law, but his shoulders slumped confirming the Turtleoid's suspicions. Mira stepped up beside her father and put a comforting hand on his arm. She already knew their reason for returning and she could feel it breaking her father's heart. "I'm sure you did your best."

"Yes, he did." Sarah appeared from the hall with Katsu in her arms. The tot was overjoyed to see his grandparents and had been babbling nearly non-stop since their return.

Donnie let out a heavy sigh, not meeting anyone's eyes. "But my best wasn't good enough this time."

Mira eyed the tablets with terabytes of data on them. "Could I take a look?"

Her father finally turned his gaze to meet hers, a small tendril of hope burning in his chest. "Yes, it certainly wouldn't hurt. Your mind does work differently than mine. A fresh perspective may be just what we need."

She hugged him. "We'll figure it out. There's still time."

"Maybe." Don exchanged a glance with Sarah, who frowned. She was pretty certain any idea Mira may come up with is one Donnie had already tried. And because of that she held her own hope in check. But like he'd said, it couldn't hurt.

Mira tossed the third of ten tablets on the bed with a growl. Each tablet was overflowing with data. But so far none of it was giving her any hope. Maybe that was the most frustrating thing about this whole situation. Leo had said in their family meeting that hope was powerful. But right now she was having a difficult time finding any.

The meeting as expected had been somber and quiet. Everyone had left it with a knot in their chest. Kala had said she didn't want to be treated any different than normal. But how could they not treat her differently? In the month she'd been gone her aunt looked like she'd lost another five pounds. And when Mira had hugged her, she'd felt cold to the touch. When she'd been home Kala had changed so subtly that they hadn't noticed. But with her prolonged absence, those changes were blaring on the surface now. No one could deny the truth.

Mira could feel the grief in their household, particularly Kaz's. He'd been uncharacteristically quiet during the meeting. She could feel his heartache even now. It tore at her soul and bit at her heart. She tried to press it away as she scrolled through the fourth tablet.

Suddenly a pair of large familiar hands wrapped around hers and took the device from her. She blinked up at K-three, trying to clear the dampness from her eyes. "You don't have to look through all these tonight." He brushed his thumb along her cheek, catching a wayward tear. He could sense her emotions tumbling one on top of another - fear, frustration, desperation, sadness and grief.

"I know. It's just so...maddening! Do you know there are twenty-five Neutrino blood types! Twenty-five, Kane! They don't even know how to do transplants and if they did, the risk of rejection is astronomical! And synthetic lungs are simply out of the question! There is no such thing on Neutrino! Bio-mechanical arms and legs are an everyday things there, but I guess if you get blasted in the chest you just die! What kind of logic is that!"

K-three cupped her face. "Hey, calm down. You're upset. We all are. But no one in this family is expecting you to pull off a miracle."

"But Kaz-"

K-three's gaze softened. "I know. But things happen that we can't control. I lost my own mother when I was younger than him. He's going to hurt and it's going to be for a long time." He pulled her tight against him, effectively breaking Mira's connection with her distraught cousin. "Let's get some rest. You can look at these tomorrow. Maybe you'll have a fresh perspective on it."

She sighed, closing her eyes and allowing the brief reprieve from everyone's emotions to wash over her. "Maybe." There was still no true hope behind the word. But just maybe tomorrow she could find some.

Kaz sat on the side of his bed, elbows on knees and face in hands. He wanted to punch something. He wanted to scream. He want to…cry. What else could he do after all? He wasn't a doctor or even a genius like his uncle or Mira. He was just a turtle that had inherited his father's wisecracking whit and playful attitude, and his mother's caring heart. Ona shifted beside him to slip one of her arms through his. "Kazzey, talk to me. I know you're hurting." He shuddered as her head came to rest on his shoulder. Her soft hand began to stroke his arm, the motion soothing.

He let out a heavy breath. "I just can't imagine what it will be like…her being gone. " He lifted his eyes to look at the incubator with the small egg nestled in the peat moss. "I keep thinking, what if she doesn't get to see our baby? What if Uncle Don is wrong? What if it's worse that what he thinks?" He shook his head before dropping it back into his hands. "And what about Dad? He loves her so much. Losing Mom could completely destroy him. I remember back when Aunt Amaya died, how Uncle Leo just fell apart. What if that happens to Dad?"

"It won't."

Kaz lifted his head to look at his wife. Her gaze held such certainty in it. "Why?"

"Because we won't let it. We'll be here for him." She pressed a kiss to his cheek. "And I'll be here for you."

He turned pulling her into an embrace. "I'll be here for you too, babe. I know this is just as hard on you, because she's the only mom you remember." Ona sucked in a sharp breath, trying to fight back the tears again. With his next words, she lost the fight. "And I know she loves you."

Ona's warm tears against his neck was almost enough to send Kaz reeling over the edge. Silent tears made their appearance on his cheeks. There were no more words to be said, their quiet tears were all that remained.

A/N: Okay, the next chapter won't be so bad. As a matter of fact its kinda funny. So, that will give you guys a break. 16 will be the last chapter, so just be prepared...

Thanks for the reviews! Keep 'em coming!