The older Leo's heart was full to bursting. Not only had he gained back a missing brother, but he also got back his much-missed sensei. He could hardly believe it when he felt the paw of the old rat upon his face. He didn't need to see to feel the love in that small gesture.

"You've done well my sons."

Tears fell from his clouded eyes while the older Raph crushed Splinter to his chest.

"Masta' Splinta," the older Raph choked out. "It's really you."

The older Mikey walked quietly up to his brothers, resting a hand on Splinter's shoulder. For the first time in a long time, it felt like he had a family again.

"Dude this is so weird," whispered the young Michaelangelo. "Does anyone else think this is weird?"

"Can it Mikey," Raph snapped.

"Just let them have some space," Leo said. "This is really hard on all of them."

Donnie appreciated having his younger brothers with him. They made everything about this horrible dimension bearable. Even seeing his older brothers fight through their tears.

A shiver went down his spine.

…..

As the preparations for the battle began, Donnie found himself obsessively going over every detail. The feeling of dread he had been fighting creeped deeper into his mind.

What if this plan didn't work? What if the Shredder's suit was too strong? What if –

"No," Donnie thought fiercely. "It has to work."

Furiously he returned to his notes. A dark frown on his gentle face.

Younger Leo looked at his purple masked brother. He could practically feel Donnie's desperation. A green hand lay on his shoulder. His older counterpart could feel it too.

"He blames himself," the young Leo said. "He's taking all this guilt on his own, and nothing I say will help him."

The older Leo gave a sad chuckle.

"Boy does that sound familiar."

The young Leo blushed. He had been guilty of the same in his own dimension.

"Don't worry," said the older Leo. "I won't let him suffer."

Young Leo looked up and smiled.

"It's like you read my mind."

…..

The older Raph could feel his younger self glaring at him. The brat was seriously starting to get on his nerves.

"Ya got somthin' ta say kid?" he asked roughly.

The young turtle just coolly stared back at him absently twirling his sai.

"Tch!" the older Raph scoffed. He was actually starting to prefer Leo's company compared to this kid's silent treatment.

The younger Raph was leaning against the wall watching his older self fix up the tunneler. It was beyond him how this old fart could just go about his business without any guilt.

"How do ya do it?" he asked bitingly.

The older terrapin looked at him with his one good eye.

"Do what ya little punk?"

"How do you act like none of this is your fault?"

The older turtle's face darkened.

"What did you say?"

"I asked how you get away with bein' so weak," the younger turtle spat venomously.

Before he could blink the young turtle was pressed up against the wall, his feet dangling.

Holding him in place with his forearm, the older turtle came within inches of young Raph's face.

"You evah say that ta me again, I'll beat ya 'till ya can't even stand," he growled.

The young turtle kept glaring.

"Why didn't ya do somethin'? Why didn't ya save Casey?"

The older Raph let the young turtle slide down the wall. Backing away slowly. The pain of losing his best friend never truly went away.

Turning away, he walked back to the tunneler, his vision blurring with tears.

"Because Mikey was dyin'," he said quietly.

Raph froze, his anger vanishing like smoke.

"We were going afta' Shredder in his tower," the old terrapin said. His back to his younger self. "Mikey lost his arm and was bleedin' bad. I couldn't… I couldn't save them both."

The young turtle felt his stomach drop. Choosing between his best friend and his brother? He couldn't even imagine it.

Awkwardly, he moved forward to stand next to his other self.

"I'm sorry," he said softly, looking down at the floor. "I just…I just got so mad."

The older Raph handed him a wrench.

"You an' me both kiddo."