Leo's heart pounded as he rushed into the lab alongside his brothers and Karai, his eyes immediately moving to Mikey. The hope flaring in his chest fell when he saw that there was no change. Then he saw Master Splinter standing beside the cot, his face stern.

"Sensei?"

"What's goin' on?" Raph demanded, not bothering to hide the anxiety in his voice. "Is Mikey okay?"

Splinter remained stoic.

"Calm yourself, Raphael. Your brother is unchanged for now."

Leo blinked, his disappointment flaring into worry.

"For now?"

His eyes widened as his father looked at him. He had never seen Splinter look so tired.

"I have finally reached him, but there is little more I can do."

A sickening feeling twisted in Leo's stomach, and Donnie's trembling voice came from behind him.

"W-what do you mean, Sensei?"

Splinter released a heavy sigh.

"Your brother's spirit is lost and drifting. Without guidance, I fear it will soon fade away."

There was a heavy silence following these words, then Raph spoke in a voice that cracked with fear.

"So, if we can't get him out of it, he…?"

Splinter placed a hand on his son's shoulder.

"Yes, Raphael. We must bring Michelangelo back to us before it is too late."

Another silence followed, but was soon broken by Donatello's quivering voice.

"H-how?"

Splinter turned to Donnie.

"Speak to him. Let your brother hear your words, and let them guide him."

There was quiet then, as the others looked at each other. Finally, Donnie drew in a deep breath and moved up to the cot. His voice trembled just a little as he took his younger brother's hand in his.

"H-hey, Mikey, it's Donnie. I don't know if you can hear me… I hope you can… but I want to say…"

His voice cracked, tears forming in his eyes.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry that I couldn't stop this from happening. But more than anything… I'm sorry for taking you for granted. I know we haven't given you much of a reason to believe it, but you're strong. You can fight this, I know you can. Don't you remember everything you've done? Like the time you made that retro mutagen, and when you… when you saved us from that parasite? I never really thanked you for that, did I?"

Donnie squeezed his brother's hand, a few tears escaping his eyes.

"Please give me the chance to do that. Come back, please."

The others waited with bated breath, hoping for some kind of sign that the words had been heard. A sharp breath from Donnie made them all look up.

"What?" Raph demanded.

"I-I think his hand twitched!"

"You think or you know?"

"Raphael," Master Splinter said, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Calm yourself. Remember, your brother needs you."

Pressing a hand to his face, Raph stepped away from the group. After taking a few deep breaths, he walked back over to the cot. With slow care, he took Mikey's hand from Donnie.

"Mikey?" He gave the hand a gentle squeeze. "Little brother? Can… can you hear me?" With a trembling breath, he slowly sank down onto the stool. "Listen, I… I'm not very good at this kind of stuff. But… I just want you to know, I believe in you. I do, and I'm so, so sorry for all the times that I didn't. Mikey, come on. I don't know if you've noticed, but we're not doing so good. You have no idea, little brother. We need you." He swallowed hard, then lowered his head. "I need you."

Tears dripped from Raph's eyes as he held Mikey's hand, pressing it to his forehead.

"Please," he whispered.

Suddenly, he felt something. His head snapped up, thinking that he must have imagined it. But then it happened; the hand in his shifted.

"Mikey?"

In front of his disbelieving eyes, his little brother's face twitched, his brow furrowed just a little. Raph found himself unable to speak, tightening his grip, but his heart fell when Mikey's face slid back into its still mask.

"No, no, Mikey, come on…"

No response came. Gritting his teeth, Raph clutched his brother's hand even tighter. Leo gave his shoulder a gentle pat, then took a deep breath of his own.

"Mikey, I… I know I don't have any right to ask you for anything. I let you down, as your leader and your brother." Taking his little brother's hand in his, Leo gave it a gentle squeeze. "But Raph's right… we really do need you. You're our light, little brother. If you weren't here, I don't know where we'd be."

He broke off when Mikey's hand twitched again. Everyone watched with baited breath as his brow furrowed again, his head slowly moving from side to side.

"That's it…" Raph whispered. "That's it, Mikey. Come on."

Master Splinter stepped forward, laying a gentle hand across Mikey's forehead and closing his eyes in concentration. Mikey's eyelids quivered, once, twice. Then finally, slowly, they parted to reveal a sliver of sky blue. After a few blinks, a faint smile flickered across his face.

"H-… hey…"

The entire room seemed to let out a collective sigh. Raph couldn't hold back tears as he pressed his forehead to Mikey's.

"Hey," he rasped.

Laughing with relief, tears escaping their own eyes, Leo and Donnie pressed in. Weakly, Mikey returned their embrace with his good arm. Splinter reached out to caress Mikey's cheek, a relieved smile warming his tired face.

"My son," he murmured. "My little one."

Karai remained standing apart from the group, but a relieved smile spread across her own face. After a few moments Leo looked up at her. His smile widening, he motioned with his head. Karai hesitated, then stepped up and gave Mikey's hand a gentle squeeze.

"I'm glad you're awake, Michelangelo."

Mikey gave her a weak but bright smile.

"Y-you n' me both, sis."

Karai smiled back at him, squeezing his hand again. She began to step back, but then Raph reached out and grabbed her arm. With a gentle pull, he tugged her into the group hug. She hesitated, startled, then slowly eased into the family embrace.

No one spoke. But no one had to.