Mikey hobbled along, getting progressively weaker, and he knew the end was near. He knew that he was going to die. But he would be damned if he left a little kid all alone in the dark to freeze to death. He didn't allow himself to think of his brothers, or his father, or even of the many twists and turns in his life. He didn't let himself think about anything but reaching home. Home. Just saying the word evoked feelings of warmth, safety, and a picture of his family on the couch. In his mind, Donnie was sitting as close to April as physics would allow him, blushing beet red, while Casey was on her other side, teasing him. April would be smacking both of them on their heads. Mikey chuckled a bit. That would show them. Girls aren't objects, guys! You don't own April! Girl Power!

Laughing caused a coarse, hacking cough to rack his frame. Mikey tasted blood in his mouth, and knew he didn't have much time. Sora stirred, and he tensed. But she just turned her head closer to his shell. He relaxed.

Looking around, he noticed a sign on the wall, next to a large scorch mark where Donnie had once tested a portable flamethrower. That hadn't gone well. Splinter's ear still had a singe mark on it. He winced, remembering the punishment for that particular fiasco. A week of three hours extra training a day, no surface runs, no TV, and worst of all, no pizza. It was torture.

Shaking his head at the memory, he squinted at the cold, rough concrete, trying to make out the words sprayed onto it. His vision was blurry, a fact he hadn't noticed before now, and one which bothered him. He needed to get them to safety. How could he do that if he couldn't see properly?

He reached up and traced the outlines of the letters with his hand.

S-E-W-E-R-T-U-N-N-E-L-1-9. Mikey shook his head in disbelief. They were within a half mile of home. Home!

Looking down at his charge, he saw Sora's face scrunch up, then her eyes squinch shut as she sneezed again and again. Her eyes opened up wide, reflecting Mikey in the blue pools. He smiled at her, and adjusted her in his arms so she could sit up.

"We're almost home." He said wonderingly.

"Will I see Mommy and Daddy?" Sora struggled out of his arms, and stood on the freezing cold, wet sewer floor. She looked up at him, and tears filled her eyes at his expression.

"I'm not, am I?" The high, clear voice brought Mikey down to look her into the eyes.

"No."

She looked down, tears threatening to spill over, then clenched her fists and closed her eyes. She took a deep breath, and willed herself to be brave. 'Like Mikey'. She thought.

Without a word, Sora reached her arms up to the one person who had been able to protect her from the worst horrors she had ever known.

He picked her up, and held her tight.

With a voice choked by emotion, Mikey vowed,

"I will always take care of you. You will never be hurt again as long as you are with me. Don't be afraid. I've got you."

Sora looked up into his eyes.

"I know."

Hey guys. It's a bit rough, and a little short, but I like it nonetheless. I guess what inspired me to update was the news of my father's health started to fail. He's always been sick, but I think he's starting to actively die. I'm kinda scared, to be honest. Scared of him dying, and scared of not having a father. Life is tough sometimes, huh? I'm not going to say I have endless amounts of courage, or that I'm more deserving than all of the other people in the world who are having to face this, but I do know one thing. I really don't want him to die. For all his mistakes, he's still my dad, and...well, I love him.

Thank you so much for continuing to read and support me. Don't be intimidated by thinking you have to say something about his health, or about me, or how sorry you are. If you want to, go ahead. If you want to just read this and review, that's good too.

Thank you guys so much, and I'll try to update again soon.

~EmberAmberFirdaus~