Chapter summary: He tells the truth. Raph doesn't take it to well.

He didn't know what to do.

He didn't know if he should tell them one at a time or all together, but he knew he should tell them the truth he -no, he needed to tell them the truth . His chest was hurting from keeping this damn secret.

Donnie knew, but that wasn't good enough.

They had to all know and maybe then Raph might be at ease and Leo might be less worry about him. Or, they might not believe him.

He sigh and sat down on his bed. He grabbed his t- phone and sent a quick apology text to Baxter for calling him a mutant fly and then got back up again and wander to the kitchen. He cooked his family breakfast and made himself comfortable as they all started to wander in one by one.

"Morning Mikey," said Leo with a wave.

"Morning."

He can't tell them.

He can't.

He can't tell them the truth.

"And, how are you this morning my son?"

"I'm alright. I just need to, um no never mind."

"Spill it out knucklehead."

"It's nothing. Forget about it."

Mikey huffed and walk away.

"He didn't eat his breakfast," note Leo.

Donnie picked up his plate and picked up Mikey plate.

"I'll go see him and see what's the matter with him."

"Indeed my son, make sure he is well." Splinter ear twitched and turned around only to turn his attention back to his son.

Donnie didn't think much to it and walk off to Mikey room.

"Hey buddy. I got you breakfast."

"I wasn't hungry."

"You need to eat something Mikey even if it's only a little."

"I supposed."

"So, mind telling me what happened back there?"

"I'm wondering if I should tell them, but I'm worried about them not believing me."

"I'm sure they will believe you Mikey. I believed you."

"You believed mum."

"And, I guess it to. But I still believe it."

Mikey didn't say anything he kept to himself just playing with his food.

"Look Mikey, they're going to believe you no matter what."

Mikey looked at Donnie as if to say Raph won't.

"Alright, Raph might not, but Leo and Splinter will."

Donnie notice Mikey touching his chest he frowned.

"Mike?"

"It hurts. This secret hurts. I'm not used to keeping secrets Donnie my body can't handle it."

Mikey wipes his eyes and Donnie put an arm over his shoulders.

"You can tell them the truth Mikey. I know you can. And, if Leo and Raph don't listen I'll beat them up."

Mikey smiled at the thought and Donnie rub a hand on his head.

This is it, Mikey thinks to himself.

This is it.

He was going to tell them.

After training Mikey found himself trying to tell himself that what he was doing was the right thing.

"Guys, I need to talk to you." They turned around. "There's something I've been keeping a secret."

"I knew it," said Raph. He was quickly hit over the head by Donnie bo-staff. "Ow."

"Let him talk," said Donnie with a frown.

He can do this.

"I'm not your Mikey."

Donnie face palm, Splinter ear twitch and both Leo and Raph shouted.

"What?"

Raph brought out his Sai's.

"You better start talking Mikey or else."

"Leave him alone Raph that isn't what he meant at all," said Donnie.

"But I'm not."

"Michelangelo I would like to know why you think you are not my son."

"Because I'm not. I'm not him."

"You are him," said Donnie in a force tone.

"Am I?"

"Yes, Mikey you are him."

"I don't feel it," he mumbled. Donnie frowned. He brighten up at once. "I mean I am him. I think."

"Mikey you are him. Just a bit confuse."

"Right."

"You still haven't explain knucklehead."

"I'm from the future."

There's a pause and the family stares. Donnie looks ready to wrack them all over the head even Splinter won't stand a chance with him, but it's Raph who lets out a laugh.

"Raphael," Master Splinter warns as Mikey shoulders slums down in defeat.

He knew it.

He knew it.

They won't believe him and then Donnie wracks Raph over the head and Mikey walks away.

"You insensitive hot headed jerk. How could you?"

He wracks Raph a second time then a third time and Raph puts up his Sai's to block the attack this does not stop Donnie from wracking him repeatedly.

"Do you know how hard that is for Mikey and then you just laugh in his face."

"Cool it shell head."

"Shell head? Shell head."

That was a new insult even by Raph standers.

"My sons enough of this let us all take a moment to calm down."

"You knew about this didn't you Donnie." said Leo.

"I did," said Donnie forcing himself from stop hitting Raph. He really wants to beat his older brother black and blue.

"One day I had a conversation with mum she said a few things that gave it away. But it was before that when Mikey came to me because of a nightmare. He mentioned he died. Sensei he dies in the future Mikey actually dies. That's why he's here in the first place because he dies."

And, then Raph remembered the dream of his younger brother head being chopped off. He wipe his an eye and frowned when he notice a tear drop on his hand thankful his family hasn't notice.

"This is very troubling. It would explain a number of things," said Master Splinter thoughtfully.

"You mean you believe him sensei?" asked Donnie.

"Of course my son. Which is why I'm going to find Michelangelo and speak to him hopefully it will ease my sons troubles"

The turtles watch the old rat leave the dojo.

"Leo?" said Donnie holding up his staff threatening.

"I believe it."

"Seriously you believe that crap?" asked Raph, Leo frowned.

"Why would Mikey lie about something like that?"

"Because he ain't our Mikey. He was right from the start when he said that. Because that means he took out Mikey the moment the old guy died and found himself in his tot body."

"Raph, Mikey didn't take anything. He's still Mikey."

"Mikey was happy Leo. Happy. I remember it clearly before this Mikey came."

"Will he's still my brother. If he won't be yours Raph he's still my brother and if you don't mind. I have a baby brother that needs comforting."

Leo storm off and Donnie frown at his older brother, disappointed written on his face as clear as day.

Raphael was dreaming.

He was dreaming of his little brother back when Mikey was happy.

"Raphie, Raphie, Raphie," said the tot in delight.

"It's Raph," he corrected.

"Nah, Raphie."

"Raph."

"Raphie."

And, then it happened. His baby brother let out an awful scream and he fade away from Raph and older Mikey was suddenly in front of him.

"I want my brother back," he demand weapons out.

"Do you?" older Mikey asked. "You've always call me a screw up."

"No, I don't."

"But you did Raphael."

"It's Raph."

"You are Raphael to me."

He heard thunder then and the older Mikey head was chop off again he woke up screaming.

He lands on the floor with a thud.

"Leave me alone," he mumbles to himself and Spike look up at him. "I miss him buddy.I miss my brother not him."

Or, maybe it was anger.

Deep seeded anger at himself for allowing Mikey to change in the first place.

Or maybe it was anger for allowing Mikey to die at all.

Mikey shouldn't have die he just shouldn't.

He toss his pillow to the side and walk over to Mikey room. He didn't know how long he was there when he was just staring at Mikey tossing and turning. He knew his baby brother was having another a nightmare.

"No, don't. I'm sorry. I'm not."

He was crying in his sleep to. Raph sigh.

"Hey buddy it's just a dream come on wake up."

"But it's not. It's not a dream you're dead you're all dead."

Ah shell, Raph thinks to himself. Who was he kidding it was still his brother time traveler or not. Just lost and confused and a little bit messed up in the head.

"It's alright Mikey. You're in the past remember and were all right with you."

"You're not my brother. You're not him."

Raph flinch at the thought. Talk about karma.

"I might not be him Mikey. But I'm still your brother."

Mikey eyes snap open and he sob in Raph arms.

"I miss them Raph. I miss my family."

Because Mikey didn't think they were his family and Raph wasn't too sure how to handle that all he knew was karma had finally came around to bit him.

"We're them Mikey. We are. We're them."

"But Raph."

"We're them buddy. We are."

"But…"

"We really are them Mikey."

"I've change the timeline."

"Isn't that a good thing?"

Mikey sniffer and nods.

"I suppose."

"See."

"Raphie. I'm not a screw up am I."

He flinched because he remembers the older Mikey words.

"No, Mikey. You're not a screw up."

He sniffers some more and Raph watches little brother go into restless sleep.