Author's Note: Yikes. My summer sucked up my time, and muse, way faster than I thought. I apologize for the long delay, and a shorter chapter. I'm gonna push extra hard to get the next chapter up soon before the semester kicks back up! I want to thank all of you who have been following, favoriting, reviewing, and reading so far. Honestly, it means the world to me. It's you guys who help me push through stressful times to write! Also, if interested, please check out "Just Once" - A TMNT 2016 story I'm co-authoring on my page! Again, I love to hear your thoughts so far as we near the conclusion of the tale! I've got a few ideas up my sleeve for my next major chapter writing! Enjoy!

Disclaimer: Song quote from "Right Here" by Ashes Within.

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A Turtle & His Sisyphus

...

"I'll be right here, now, to hold you when the sky falls down."

...

/././././././././././././././././././././././././

"I won't let you!"

This was the part where the superhero would make the ultimate sacrifice in order to save those he loved. Michelangelo hated clichés, but he began to understand the irony of it all. His brothers, falling right into Bishop's hands—because of the choices he made. The 'what ifs' didn't have the time, or importance, to flood his mind. If he was going to fight through the pain, he would be damned if he brought his family down with them. "I'm sorry," He choked back, more so to his family than for himself as he allowed himself off the building.

Although, Mikey considering himself pretty lucky at times. Many of the times, the odds were in his favor—even with their luck. When a throwing star would just miss him, or the day he thought he'd sneak some of Raph's leftovers and not be met with a slap across his head. Mikey always believed in fate, a strange magical way that allowed him to get away with almost anything.

That feeling wasn't with him when he allowed himself to fall back from the building. Luckily, his body wasn't protesting either. He couldn't look ahead, he couldn't dare watch his brothers desperately following. He hung his head back, the electrical current from his suit still reacting. Air began to seep through the cracks of the suit as he struggled to gasp for air. Watching the black sky while the echoes of his family began to slowly drown out.

"The toxic gas- you'll get infected!"

Tight, suffocating—he desperately reached for his throat with little success. Well, Mikey mentally shrugged, if Donnie can get through a second mutation he sure could. But wishful thinking didn't stop the pulsing numbness that froze his body stiff.

"Leo!" Was the final cry he heard as reality gracefully plummeted. His body finally collided with the icy water. For a moment it felt like a relief that was until he tried to breath again. He couldn't move, Mikey knew the suit was weighing him down. Finally, fight or flight kicked in—in Michelangelo's case, it was panic.

The pure physical panic that Splinter taught them all to fight through was slipping. He was sinking deeper. If only he could just get one arm up closer enough to remove the rest of the mask. His eyes opened for a moment, catching a quick silhouette rushing closer to him. Was something grabbing his arm? Did the sinking stop? Reality wasn't being so helpful anymore as his body finally began to shut down.

And that was the moment that's when Michelangelo felt himself to blissfully fall into the darkness…

/././././././././././././././././././././././././././

The scariest things in life were those that you could never control. Knowing no matter how hard you fight, everything can slip away from you in a heartbeat. And it was happening right in front of his eyes.

Donatello froze. As if time had just stopped around him, everything slowly seemed to let go. His job to act when no one did, to think fast before the inevitable—was slowly slipping away.

"Leo!" It was Raphael's frantic cry that shook Donnie from his foggy gaze. His heart leap when he realized Leo was no longer in his grasp, but dashing across the building. In a few short steps, Donnie helplessly watched as Leo jumped right off the building.

Raphael wasn't far behind, fighting vigorously to follow Leonardo. But he simply shuffled back as he watched him jump straight into the river, leaning over the edge and shooting a desperate look back at Donatello. "We have to get down there! Now!"

Donnie was quick on his feet, rushing over to where Mikey was standing. Reaching for his goggles he quickly scanned the area, that arrow had to be shot nearby and if there were any more…

"They're not coming up!" Raphael panicked, practically hanging off the building as he desperately looked down in the river. "Don, they should be coming up! Why aren't they coming up? I don't see them!"

Cursing under his breath, Don's eyes widened as his scanners locked on a signature not far from their location. Bishop, he was certain. But he wasn't moving, not even a hint of acknowledgement of their presence. What is he waiting for?

"Don!" Raphael desperately cried, tightly grabbing his arm and pulling him close hoping to grab his attention.

Donnie's head didn't shift, his eyes locking on his target. Standing high above a nearby building, he still holding what looked to be a bow-gun. His dark sunglasses shadowing his gaze, appearing only to be watching in the water—most likely looking for Leo and Mikey. He hissed, "Bishop. He's here. Watching."

"What? Don, we'll deal with that later!" Raphael hissed, frantically returning to the edge hanging his head over. "Wait- There's Leo! I don't see Mikey!"

That caught Don's attention. Allowing himself to look back down at the river. It was Leo who popped his head out for a moment, panting before taking another breath before plunging back down. Don felt his stomach sink, he was right behind Mikey. With his metallic limb he should have been able to pick him up with no-.

"His hand." Don gasped, "Mikey may still have electric current running through your suit, it must be shocking Leo as well if he grabs him!"

Raphael growled in frustration. "Then what the hell are we waiting for? We gotta get down there! Follow me!"

"Not so fast."

Don's gut instinct kicked in. Something was coming. He was quick to turn his head to find an arrow heading straight for him—no, speeding to Raph. Don stepped in front of Raphael, catching the arrow with the end of his bo. The speed of it sent him a step back, bumping into Raph. Shooting his head up, Bishop was casually approaching the two.

"You." Raphael was armed and ready, feeling his blood boil as he squeezed the ends of his sai. Donnie reached his other arm out to stop Raph from charging right at him. Not giving much of a fight, he retreated and remained firm by Don's side.

"I must say, Raphael, I doubted your abilities to create such impressive armor. No matter, the toxin inside the helmet would have suffocated and infected him by now. I do hope your brothers learn to finally stay down, I am growing tired of them kicking back up again. Although," Bishop chuckled darkly, "It was so much fun. My, my, I wonder how you two would do."

"Where are the other bombs?" Don demanded. His mind already beginning to calculate, preparing for anything for Bishop to throw at them. He couldn't think, or doubt. He had to trust, and he'd be damned if he would let him win.

"Ah, I see your friends have done their homework. It won't matter soon enough." Bishop smugly commented, twilling his sword around. "I gave your brother a chance to allow you all in my new world. I see he choose the latter, pity. No matter, perhaps you two can still be of use to me. I can always use new subjects."

"Like hell, dipshit." Raphael spat, defensively stepping in front of Don. "Where are they?"

"You know, I'm feeling generous this evening." Bishop smiled, eerily. "I will make you a deal. You see", Bishop reached into his pocket, pulling out a small white bottle. "The nerve toxins will kill within ten minutes, but I have the antidote. Your brother has, let's say, about five minutes left to live? I will give you this, and allow you to give it to him. But, you must take it from me first."

It could be a bluff, Donnie thought, anything could. But he hasn't lied so far about Mikey's condition. He fought the urge to return to the edge in hopes of finding his brothers safe onshore. But Raphael was quick to fight back. "Fuck your deal. I'm sick of this game. Where are the bombs?"

"It ends. Now." Bishop wielded his blade forward as he headed straight for Donatello. A swift kick sent Don's bo flying out of his hand, met with a fist straight into his already bruised eye sending him flying back. His vision blurred for a moment as he stumbled to the ground. Struggling back on his feet, he could make out the shimmer of the blade about to strike him down. Don sidestepped, back flipping over the swipe of the blade. Raphael was not far behind, going for a personal approach. Tackling Bishop from behind, he wrapped his arm around his neck, impaling his side with his sai. Bishop hissed, quickly to break free from Raphael's grasp. Twisting Raph's arm enough for him to cry out and send him flying.

Bishop wasn't returning for either. Donnie used the opportunity to rush to Raph's side, assisting him back on his feet. Bishop was walking towards the end of the building, simply watching over the edge. Keeping his sword in one hand, he reached into his trench coat to pull out a bow-gun. He arched it high over the edge. "NO!"

"Stay the hell away from them!" Raphael roared, blindly dashing forward right to Bishop.

"Raph!" Donnie howled. Raphael was quick to dodge before Bishop's blade could slice his side, quick stepping around him. The two continued to spar, until Donnie was able to get back on his feet., leaping back on his feet as he jumped back. But Bishop was already advancing on Raph, enough so that he was able to kick him straight into the concrete ground. Pinning him to the ground, Don watched as Bishop's blade barely missed Raph's neck—instead, piercing through his shoulder.

Suddenly a blade whisked past him, soaring right into the back of Bishop's neck. Donnie turned around, hoping it was Leonardo. Instead, it was foot ninja. "Well played…" He coughed up blood, which he was quick to brush away. "It seems the bitch does have a heart after all."

Donnie froze for a moment, unsure of their intentions. Suddenly they rushed right past him, attacking Bishop. He was quick to knock them on their backs, but not without repercussion. He was showing off multiple cuts, and stab wounds. Seizing the opportunity, he grabbed Raphael's fallen sai and attacked from behind. Pulling him as far away from his brother as he could, he pinned him down to the ground.

"It's over." Donatello whispered, gripping Raphael's sai dangerously pressed against Bishop's neck. He only chuckled, his eye glaring through his broken sunglasses.

"You're right. It is over. Your brothers are probably dead, and you lost. Ah, Donatello. You and I are more alike than you think," Bishop mused, remaining completely still as his eyes locked onto his. "Our minds are a blessing, and a curse you see. We're allowed to see the world in a way others cannot, a way your brothers can't. We believe in facts, the truth. Something your 'morality' can't make clear. You see, I know you won't kill me. You can't kill a god. Your brothers couldn't do it, and neither will you. And I will be your demise. I will make your family wish for death."

"Like hell you will." Donnie gripped Raphael's sai tightly as he plunged it deep into Bishop's chest.

"I will not fall, not to you. Not to anyone. You fool! No, I will transcend." His eyes never closed as he grew still, and the air was silent.

/./././././././././././././././././././././././././

Splinter learned early on that loving his children would never be enough. As much as he wanted to wrap his arms around his sons and protect them, he knew all too well what lied above. In a world that was so unforgiving, filled with fear—a world he didn't want to subject his children to. Splinter knew he had to teach them how to live, to survive—to protect each other in helping create a better and safer world.

As his each grew older and learned more about the world above, Splinter knew they would each grow and become their own person. And so that love would look different, but never change the amount he cared for each of them. Or so he told himself.

Leonardo, practically born into the role of leader. Raphael, a fierce soul with a fiery passion for justice. Donatello, a mind so brilliant with a heart as just as immense. Michelangelo, a light filled with hope and potential for greatness.

But it wasn't enough to simply love his sons. Love didn't bring Leonardo home. Love didn't stop Raphael from falling deeper into his own grief. Love didn't relieve Donatello from the concerns of their family. Love didn't reassure Michelangelo.

Nor would it spare his family from pain, hurt, and loss.

Splinter knew there was only so much he could do at his age, his body painfully reminding him of the fact. He knew if he tried to reach his youngest again, his physical self would not be able to handle it again. Perhaps, he prayed, a final spiritual connection can return his son home. One final hope that could lead his son away from the night…

/./././././././././././././././././././././././././

So dark that I couldn't even see my own hands in front of me! No amount of growing up, and endless supply of nightlights could change my mind otherwise that the dark was creepy. I don't know how I ended up here, but suddenly everything felt bigger around me. I was a little kid all over again, and I've been stuck in this nightmare. And Splinter was waiting, knelt in the dojo. He looked old, and tired. I don't want to keep him waiting.

Man, everything still hurt so bad. I didn't want to think, I pushed myself to run right into him. Wrapping my arms around him, I put all that weight on him. He'd make it go away, I can't carry it anymore.

"My son," He sounded so sad, allowing my embrace to continue. "What frightens you so?"

"A nightmare." Choking back tears—ninja don't cry, Raph says—I burry my face. "It's so dark, Sensei. I'm so lost. I just want it to stop. It won't stop."

Cue Splinter's words of wisdom of the week…

"My son, perhaps you are convincing yourself that you are afraid of the dark solely for the purpose of giving in." Splinter soothed, he always had a way to make me feel calmer even when what he was saying was kind of harsh. "You are ninja, darkness is a friend- not a foe. You are a force stronger than any darkness. You can blend in with it, use it to your advantage- and when you find it flooding you- you release yourself from it."

"Sensei?" I smiled weakly, lost enough in his words. "Can't I get a new nightlight? Or put Leo on monster-checking-duty?"

He chuckled as he scooped me up in his arms. "I too used to be afraid of the darkness. But, not so in the same as you. Do you remember when Leonardo and Raphael were playing in the sewers, alone? And they faced that terrible crocodile? I was not there to protect them, and I did not know where they were. The darkness is unknown—that is why many are curious about it. You see, darkness is an ally to the ninja. Darkness is a source of power for the corrupted, using it to toy with its victims. Darkness can also be a place of peace, for those who find comfort in it. It is the trust you have in yourself, others, and the world around you that can change how you handle it. You see, Michelangelo- there are no monsters hiding in your closet, no matter what Raphael tells you. But, if you believe they are real—and that they are stronger than you—then it will conquer. You are not weak, my son, and life will work at you to try and make you think you are. But, you must not believe it. As terrible and cruel the reality may be, there is always hope. You have a family here that loves you, and a world who needs you to make it a better place. You must rise above it. Get up, my son. You must."

I didn't want to let go. I wanted to stay, it was warm and safe. "I don't want to. I want to stay here. I'm tired, dad…"

"I know, my son. I am too. I cannot stay here with you for much longer. You are strong, and you are loved. Come home, my son."

"—No! Don't do this to me!"

"I don't know how," I admit, keeping my eyes closed. I feel so much lighter, all the pain is starting to go away. "I can't go home, I screwed everything up. Leo—I hurt him really bad, and it's all my fault. He's hurt forever now. Don, Raph—everyone almost died because of me. I couldn't stop it."

"I believe you can. And you did." Splinter sat me up against him, lifting my hand up. I was holding something? I couldn't remember. Unfolding it, I found a small flash drive. I remembered, I grabbed it out of Bishop while he was interrogating me. He didn't see it. I didn't think much of it, I just hoped it'd get back to Don.

"Mikey!"

Suddenly, a light turned on at the end of the hallway. I was drawn to it, someone must be up. That's probably who's calling me. Maybe one of my brothers needs me for something, I felt like I should go. I can't leave them waiting, after all. Splinter gave me a final hug. "Be brave, my son."

"Please! Wake up!"

A bright light flashed in front of me as I gasped for air.

/././././././././././././././././././././././

Karai knew from her training at an early age that allies are useful only in the sake of battle, anything further than that could become problematic. Even in the heat of battle, you always watch your own back. But, overtime she began to see things in a different light. She blamed Leonardo. But, as Karai watched the couple frantically panic, she had her priorities.

She found herself opening her phone, plugging it into the laptop. If she could take the information for herself, perhaps someone at headquarters could locate the locations. Her mind wandered for a moment to her father, a man she thought she could rely on. There was no surprise in her mind with his involvement. But without telling her? Her father trusted her, that was no question. But were his motives? Karai knew those answers would never come. And yet, she finds herself wondering if she would discover them…

"Damn it!" Casey huffed, rejoining April by her side. "They're not answering. The line's dead. I hope Don heard me in time…"

"He did." April's voice shook. "He had to. There's four bombs each at different ends of the city, we're close to one but we'd have to leave now before they're detonated. There's no time or anything, we'd be making a risk. Casey, call Leatherhead he can probably get the one-!" Her attention went back to Karai. Her eyes widened as she watched Karai plug in her phone, beginning to delete files off of the computer screen. "Wait- What are you doing? We still have to The police will know the files have been-!"

"They won't once I destroy it. No one should have this information that can be accessible."

"Oh, and you can?" Rolling his eyes, Casey scoffed under his breath, "Figures you'd want all the dirty details to yourself."

"It is not for me. If possible, I can use Goldburg's information. If I could find a way to cross-reference Bishop's database with the information on here, we can find a way to stop it. Or contain it, if they already detonate. Or you can find Hun and ask him yourselves."

"Right. And how's that going to make things any better?" Casey retorted. He may not be a technical guy, but he considered himself a sort of realist. "He probably has the detonation on him, for all we know they're already going off! And we're supposed to believe that all that time you spent with him you knew nothing about this, cause I don't buy it, sweetheart."

"Casey, please call Leatherhead." April fought to straight her own voice, but she already felt like she was drowning. Toxins in the city, no word from Donnie or anyone, Karai supposedly on their side—what could she trust?

"Okay, okay!" Casey dismissed, quickly flipping his phone as he searched for his contact. Casey cursed, kicking a nearby chair. "Fucking service. Don't tell me he cut that off too, son-of-a-bitch!"

Karai paused for a moment, contemplating her own thoughts. Her attention shifted to her phone screen as she watched the download. "Believe what you want. My time with Bishop was brief, at best. He shared with me the testing he was doing, in particular with Michelangelo. My request for a cure was being 'supposedly' executed, not too much attention was on it but enough for my men to use the work to complete the rest on their own. I found Akio already killed. I thought being there would make a difference, and he was held captive the whole time. Unnecessary, and at the end he was tossed aside. He was my closest ally…and friend. That was when I snuck past security and cured Michelangelo, as well. After that, Bishop cut his staff in half—Goldburg did not show, Hun on occasion with his men. I believe Bishop knew about my position at that point. By that time, he disappeared. Thus, here we are. Picking up his trail…"

Casey didn't want to buy her 'act', but he found himself questioning it. Maybe she was as much of a human as Leo believed her to be. Or maybe not. "Whatever. Staying here is useless. Just get those coordinates and I'll try texting Leatherhead. Let's just get there and try to reach the guys outside."

A phone starting ringing, immediately catching Karai's attention as she unplugged the phone and quickly answered. A deep voice was on the other end, "Mistress, status?"

"Bishop set up bombs around the city—there isn't much time, I will need-."

"Mistress, Bishop is engaging the turtles. Two have fallen off the building, but the red and purple ones remain. Bishop is engaging with them. Your orders?"

Karai hesitated. And in that moment she thought of Leonardo. Her father would have made her regret even thinking this way. Was it enough to gamble for the sake of the city? She laughed to herself, mentally, finding herself stuck in a situation she never thought she could be in. Bishop was a manipulator, there was no doubt. Has Bishop's grudge turned into madness just as her father's? Was that enough to risk a city—innocent lives—for this?

His eyes are soft. He was vulnerable, shoulders relaxed. She watched his gaze meet hers, and it was real, genuine. "You must swear it, that no matter what happens to me…My family is safe. If it comes down to leaving me behind to save my brothers do it. I…I know you'll do the right thing, when the time comes. If there is one last favor you do for me, it will be that."

Damn you.

"Assist them. We need them to stop Bishop."

"Understood."

"What's going on?" Casey demanded.

"I believe," Karai unplugged her phone, stabbing her blade through the computer. "the turtles need assistance. We must hurry."

/././././././././././././././././././././././

I used to think we were different. That each of us had something about us that made us stand out, something that made us special. The good, the bad, and the in-between—it mattered. And I wouldn't change that.

Leo was the born leader, Donnie was the creator, and Mikey was the light. It clicked. It made sense. Even though Splinter raised us all, we each became something else. Something unique, something we at some point wish we could be. There were many days I wish I could be as focused and determined as Fearless, and be exactly that. Even when the tensions rise, or even the stakes, he never lost sight. Other days, I wish I could be as patient and wise as Donnie. As the older brother, it was supposed to be me—and I'm happy it's Donnie. Don always had a way of just getting it, and not just with the technical stuff. But about everything, and everyone. And Mikey just knows how to make everything better. Even when it's so bad, Mikey just had a way to make you smile and laugh even for a moment. As chaotic as he could be, it brought peace to the lives we live every day.

It was never a question when Leo became leader. Through our countless fights, and my confusion—I was just fed up trying to figure out what I did well. Donnie stood up when someone got hurt, becoming the unspoken medic of the team. Mikey felt everything for us that we couldn't say, feeling no shame in feeling it either.

I became the resident hothead, so to speak. Splinter calls it passion, Leo calls it blindness. I'm still trying to figure that out.

But, April used to always joke how there are times were we are all the same. I never thought of it like that, I didn't want to be like them. I wanted to be me. Knowing we are the only of our kind, and that someday we won't be around—I guess I wanted to be remembered in my own way. So, I shrugged it off. Until I started to pick up on it.

It was the little things, at first, April was sure to point out.

The way Don would huff when he couldn't get something workin' right, just as the way Leo gets when he doesn't get his way—their own perfectionists at the end of the day. Or how Mikey prefers to talk his heart out, I rather hit something—we don't like keeping things in.

When Donnie gets really worked up, like stressed, he paces around the room like Leo does sometimes. Leo's way of showing he cares is though orders, and sometimes yelling—something he and I share. Mikey and Donnie typically have the same sense of humor, usually meeting each other's lame jokes with a belly laugh. Donnie likes to do things to keep himself busy, like me. That's become our thing, we'd hang out and talk while working on my shell-cycle.

As the oldest pair, Leo and I did spend a lot of time together. Even though he's my first resort for butting heads, he—like Donnie—was always the most patient with me. Sure, he'd get fed up with me. But after a huge blowout, he's the first one to knock at my door to make amends. Even when I was wrong, Leo was able to swallow his pride to fix it. That's what we do, we duke it out and eventually after a few hits we eventually come to our senses. That's why Sensei thought I got fed up so much during Leo's absence—that it was suddenly all on me. Even though Donnie took head of house, it didn't change the fact that Leo told me to take care of them before he left.

Mikey hung out with me too much as a kid, unfortunately picking up my worst habits. Sensei used to tell me that Mikey feels as much as I do, just like the others we all show it differently. Although he doesn't show it much, when he does it's like hell. He's not an angry guy like me, but like Donnie—he builds it up and let's just say, you don't wanna see it pop.

It's the little things that we don't really pay attention to…

When Leo refills Don's coffee cup without him knowing.

Or when I know Don could have fixed the shell-cycle in less time, but leaves it because he knows I like to work on it with him- together.

Mikey would just know when something was up, and spend just a little more time with ya to cheer you up.

After a fight, I apologize first to Leo because I know he's already guiling himself a hundred times over.

I know after a big brawl, sometimes Mikey likes to be alone—especially when things get intense. But we'd all still sneak in a family game night to cheer him up.

When one of us gets hurt really bad, Don's anxiety is through the roof—so bad that I'm pretty sure I catch him trembling when it's real bad. That's why we all decided for him to teach us anything we could learn about medicine from a simple patch up, to maybe a really serious injury.

But suddenly, all that can go away. In an instant, everything you know could be gone.

I was watching that happen right in front of me.

And my entire mind screaming was how to make it stop.

/./././././././././././././././././././././././././././././