She took another step and slowly the creature looked up. The baby blue eyes filled with so much fear April could feel her stomach turn again. She couldn't believe what she was seeing.

"…M-Mikey…?"

Her voice trembled as she said those words, tears already threatening to spill. It was real, from the moment she saw him she knew it was real. She had no idea how, how he was still alive, but she knew he wasn't her imagination.

Slowly April took another step towards the scared mutant, and immediately a loud and animalistic hiss escaped Mikey's mouth, muffled by the muzzle around his face and he scrambled backwards. Pressing his shell against the far corner as hard as he could.

"Red?" Casey whispered hesitantly, not sure what he was seeing. He never met the young turtle so it was obvious he wouldn't recognize him, but he saw a mutant turtle in the giant cage, just like Raph, Leo and Donnie.

"It's him Casey" April whispered, not taking her eyes off Mikey. He was huddled in the corner of the room, hugging his own chains and staring wide-eyed at April, tears brimming in his eyes. They almost seemed to glow in contrast with his dirty skin.

"Stay here" April whispered, quickly glancing to Casey, gesturing him to stay back. Mikey didn't know him, never met him, and he was obviously petrified by them, even April. The red haired teen took another step, and with no way out, Mikey hissed again.

Again a low animalistic hiss, normal turtles would let out once they were threatened, escaped Mikey's mouth. And it hurt April to see Mikey like this, so animalistic. She was so happy to see Mikey alive, in a way, but it hurt her to see him with all the scrapes, the chains, the muzzle, and the hurtful eyes.

"It's okay Mikey. It's me, April" April lowly whispered, slowly extending her hand towards Mikey. The mutant began to shake even more, clearly scared. His shell was tightly pressed against the iron wall, and his eyes filled with tears already.

"You don't have to be afraid Mikey, no one is going to hurt you okay?" She continued, taking another slow step. The trembling never stopped but Mikey stopped trying to get away, staring at the approaching teen fearfully.

April expected him to do something, hiss again, cry, and in the worst case attack her, but he seemed to be frozen as April slowly extended her hand. She was so close, after a whole year she was just inches away from her little brother.

"Don't be scared" She whispered as she carefully, very carefully pressed her fingertips against Mikey's giant hand. His blue eyes immediately disconnected from hers and he looked downwards, staring wide-eyed at the human hand.

Slowly he tilted his own hand, taking April's hand in between his own hand, softly squeezing it. It didn't hurt, far from it, she barely felt any pressure, and Mikey was obviously not intending on hurting her, which was a good sign.

Her breathing was soft and calm while her heart was beating, but she remained silent as Mikey slowly squeezed her tiny hand. The tremors in his body increased every second but no more fear was shown, and when the tears began to fell she knew why he was trembling.

He slowly looked up, looking directly into April's eyes as he carefully placed his free hand on top of April's hand, so her hand was between Mikey's hands. There was fear in his eyes, and deep within she could see all the horrors that he had faced, but there was also recognition.

"It's okay Mikey, nobody is going to hurt you" She whispered, slowly reaching out for Mikey's face. And even though Mikey was clearly beyond terrified, he allowed April to touch his cheek. Very slowly not to startle him.

"You are safe Mikey" April whispered, slowly stroking Mikey's cheek with her thumb, like she would always do if Mikey would get upset. A weak nod came from Mikey and he slowly leaned forwards, and it wasn't until his head hit her chest, she understood what he was doing.

"It will be alight Mikey, I promise" She whispered as she wrapped her arm around Mikey's shell, carefully drawing him closer but not forcing him because she knew that would be the last thing she would want to do, if she didn't want to freak him out again.

Mikey was shaking in April's arm and Casey was silently watching as the youngest brother of his mutant family cried his heart out.

TMNT

Mikey was still crying in her hold, and honestly she didn't want to disturb him but she knew it would be better if they would get Mikey out of here as soon as possible. Get rid of the chains, the muzzle, clean him and feed him, but most importantly call his brothers.

"Mikey" She whispered, slowly tipping up his chin. The young mutant whimpered slightly and it was clear he was debating whether to pull away or not from the touch but chose the latter. "We are going to get you out of here, do you think you can walk?"

Her voice was quiet and full with hurt as she looked over his body. He didn't seemed to have any obvious injuries. Some bandages were wrapped around his underarm and legs, but apart from that there were no serious injuries.

But Mikey nodded nevertheless. For a second April turned around, gesturing for Casey to step forwards before turning towards Mikey again. And even when Casey did a few steps, even though they were slow, Mikey was clearly freaking out again.

"It's okay Mikey, he's my friend, and Raph" Upon mentioning his brother's name Mikey's head shot up again, watching over to April. Casey continued to move, but even he was smart enough not to touch Mikey right away. Casey lowered himself, not to freak him out and glanced towards Mikey.

"I'm Casey" He offered. Mikey didn't know where to look and was obviously becoming very nervous but after a few seconds nodded tiredly, indicating it was okay, and Casey was allowed to help him. Casey looked over to April before they both carefully hovered him up by his arms, not making any sudden movement.

The chains were still around his limps, and so was his muzzle but that was something they couldn't do something about right now, and they had to look after that once they were home. Mikey's legs were bugling beneath him, obviously out of shape but he carried on nevertheless.

"Is your car close by?" April whispered over to Casey as they left the lab. Mikey was struggling to keep up with them but made no sound at all, no whimper, no cry, nothing.

"Just outside, nobody will see" Casey answered before glancing down to the small turtle. It was all true what April had told him about Mikey, he was smaller than the rest. The brilliant blue eyes, the freckles on his face and the child like appearance. Even if his eyes held a different story.

Casey opened the front door with his free hand and they walked outside. A huge shiver wracked through Mikey's body but they continued walking, and just like Casey said his van was parked just a few meters away from the entrance.

It was some kind of courtyard, only there was one road that you could drive on to get to the main road, and luckily that was on the other side of the building, so no one could see the two teens carrying along Mikey.

Casey's van was almost similar to April's father's party wagon, only cheaper, and black and green colors instead of all the colors on Kirby's van. Casey opened the backdoor and helped April to get Mikey into the van.

"I'll lock up for you" Casey offered with a small grin, looking over to the distressed turtle. April mouthed a silent thank you as she gave him the keys. Casey closed the door behind him and April and Mikey were alone in the van.

"Here, you must be freezing" April whispered and took off her jacket, folding it around Mikey body. The freckled turtle merely shrugged and drew his knees up to his chest, folding his arms around them, almost impossible because of the chains around them.

April sighed slightly and carefully wrapped her arm around him, first testing if he was okay with it, but it was like Mikey's mind was completely numb, not even noticing everything around him. She reached for her pocket with the other hand, taking out her phone.

She quickly dialed Leo's number and placed the phone against her ear, waiting for him to pick up. She knew she had tried just an hour ago, but this time it was important, really important. She closed her eyes when she got his voicemail and directly dialed Donnie's number.

But as expected Donnie wasn't answering too. "Donnie, call me back whenever you hear this. It's important" She finished her call and hang up. The next number was something she had never called before and was only for emergencies only, but figuring this was one she called anyways.

She placed the phone onto her ear again and waited again. She grumbled slightly when not even Master Splinter answered her call, and placed her phone in her pocket again. They would call back when they would get home, right now they had to look after Mikey.

"Where do we go Red?" Casey quietly asked as he sat down behind the steering wheel. April's head shot up, not realizing Casey had even entered the car, and apparently Mikey had the same thing as he crept somewhat closer to April.

"My house" She whispered. "They aren't answering and my aunt is out of town for 3 more days anyways, besides, he'll be more comfortable" She added, gesturing to Mikey. Casey gave a short nod as he started the van and drove off. Taking Mikey with them.