Rating: T

Warnings: Brief mention of torture.

Disclaimer: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and all related characters belong to Nickelodeon.

Summary: For months now, Mikey's been through hell with no one to count on but himself. But now that he's finally been rescued there's two problems; he's still desperately missing his family and he has no way home. No OC's. 2k3/2k12 crossover.

Comments, thoughts and concrit is always welcome.

A/N: I know I have said I will try to alternate chapters between 'AOtGO' and 'Aftermath', but please don't be disappointed if I update 'Aftermath' once more before the next 'AOtGO'. I have more of 'Aftermath' worked on at this point and since I need to devote some time to a couple of Halloween projects planned, I might be getting ch 4 of this up first. We'll see how I go.

Also, the 16th of September is the 2 year anniversary of when I started publishing 'And One to Grow On'. Keep an eye out on 'Tales From AOtGO' on that day for the one-shot explaining what happened the night 2k3 Mikey was lost to his family, IF you are interested :-P

* If you ever see my stories posted anywhere other than under the name Zelgadis55 at Deviant Art, FFNet, AO3 or Live Journal, then they have been stolen. Please report them.

AOtGO – Aftermath

Ch 3

Date : 18th Sept

With the adrenaline from the impromptu battle long worn off, Mikey slumped into his seat in the rear of the van. Fighting to keep awake, he listened to Donatello droning on as he explained to his brothers what happened to them; with the exception of their argument during the fight. He was far too exhausted to even pipe up when Leo, from his position in the driver's seat, began to lecture Donnie over their choice of heading to the surface when they did. It had all been his idea, and therefore all his fault, yet Donnie was the one copping the brunt of the blame. However, despite how things turned out, Mikey knew it had been the best choice at the time and he would make the same decision all over again regardless. Only this time, he would have tried to be quieter and more aware of his surroundings instead of fighting with Donnie, no matter how much he was justified.

Finally, the vehicle began to slow and Leo fell silent. A few moments later, the engine switched off and Leo spoke up again. "We're home," he said, his tone flat and emotionless.

Mikey flicked his gaze up to see Leo moving into the back of the van towards him and he hid the pang that coursed through him at those simple words. 'I wish...' he thought bitterly. He gave a single nod and struggled to his feet, swaying unsteadily where he stood. Donnie immediately moved to help him, eyes down, still embarrassed about what he'd said earlier.

"Leo, don't blame Donnie, okay?" Mikey rasped tiredly. "If we didn't come down when we did, then you dudes would have been carrying me down instead..."

Leo sighed in resignation, "Alright, I'll drop it," he reluctantly agreed. "This time."

"Thanks..." Mikey muttered. He shrugged off Donnie's steadying hand and stepped down out of the van, too cold and tired to even be curious about his new surroundings.

Donnie hovered close by. "Are you sure you don't want someone to lean on?"

Mikey smiled tightly. Before his capture, he would have happily lapped up the attention, but right now, he just wanted his independence.

And to sleep.

"I'm sure Don." It also didn't help that though these turtles were a version of his family, they weren't his family. The last thing he wanted was for them to think him incapable, and based on that altercation with the Purple Dragons, Mikey already knew Donnie believed him so, especially afterwards with how helpless he'd been.

Mikey followed Leo and Raph from the garage into the lair as quickly as he could manage, with Donnie sticking too close to his side on the off chance that he stumbled. Leo and Raph suddenly stopped in front of him, so Mikey stepped slightly to the side to peep past them, wondering just what it was that caught their attention. He found himself staring up in wonder, his eyes wide. "Master Splinter?" he questioned incredulously. "Shell! And there I thought Donnie was tall!"

"Welcome to our home, Michelangelo," Splinter greeted formally, his back ramrod straight.

Mikey continued to gape in surprise. "Thanks Sensei," he eventually replied, once he found his voice again. As he spoke, he gave a small, respectful bow, hands clasped up in front of his plastron.

Splinter's mouth twitched into a faint smile. "You must be exhausted. Do you require something to eat before we show you to where you may rest?"

Mikey stared a moment more, before shaking his head to alertness. "No thanks, Master Splinter. Honestly, what I want more than anything is a toothbrush and then to curl up and sleep for like a year, but I'll pass on the toothbrush because I'd probably just fall asleep and choke myself on it," he chuckled, blinking his eyes in an effort to keep them open.

"Of course," Splinter replied, inclining his head politely. "Leonardo will show you to Michelangelo's room, where you may stay for now. I have put fresh linen on the bed, but you will have to excuse the mess on the floor."

Mikey grinned tiredly, "What you call a mess Sensei, I call lived in," he joked, trying to smother his oncoming yawn.

"Come on, Mikey," Leo said softly. "I'll show you where the bathroom and bedroom is."

Mikey nodded wordlessly and trudged after him.

-:-

Once Mikey and Leo were out of sight, Raphael turned to Splinter, fidgeting. "Why Mikey's room? Why not the spare?"

"Because that's April's and though she doesn't live here any more, she still uses it when she stays over on the weekends and to store her things in when she trains," Donnie interjected softly. "May I be excused, Master Splinter?"

Splinter nodded once. "Do not stay up too long, Donatello. It has been a long night for all."

"Tell me about it," Donnie muttered, before walking away.

Donatello headed straight back to the Shellraiser to fetch Metalhead's remains, before taking them back to his lab. Once there, he sadly placed the head down on his work bench and sat, staring morosely into its lifeless eyes. Finally, he spoke. "I know he needed help, but you were supposed to help us to find our Mikey..."

Sighing, Donnie continued to gaze at his ruined creation. "One thing's for sure though, based on the implications of what we discovered tonight, finding him may be even more difficult than we feared... However, thanks to you little buddy, we now know just how much wider our search really needs to be. Thank you, Metalhead..." he added softly, reaching out to briefly touch the top of the severed head.

Then Donnie reluctantly stood and walked out the lab, switching off the light behind him before heading to bed.

-:-

"Hi Donnie," April called quietly as she stepped into his lab, closing the door gently behind her.

Donnie looked up, an expression of mild surprise filling his face. "Hey April," he replied glumly. "You're here early."

"Yeah, I left before final period started," she replied with a shrug. "Don't worry, it was only gym and I get far more out of training here with you guys anyway."

Donnie nodded wordlessly, turning back to what he was doing.

"I was hoping you could help me with something I don't quite understand yet. You explain things far better than the class teacher does," April continued, moving closer to stand beside Donnie. "Also, I told my Aunt I would be studying with friends and wouldn't be home until late. I figured if I could get my homework out of the way before sundown, I can help you guys with the search tonight."

Donnie stared up at April in surprise. "On a school night?"

"I miss him too," she said simply. The Hamato family had long ago become an important part of her heart, and with Michelangelo missing, it was as though a huge hole had been ripped into it. "Casey will be down after practise too, since he doesn't need to look after his sister tonight."

"Great," Donnie replied hollowly. "So what did you need help with, April?"

April pulled her schoolbag from her back to open it, when suddenly she noticed what Donnie was fiddling with on the bench. She stopped dead in shock. "Donnie? What happened to Metalhead? I thought you were upgrading him to help, so why is he in pieces?"

Donnie followed her gaze to the nearby automaton head. "That's right, I neglected to tell you so you don't know yet..."

"Know what?"

"You remember how Metalhead had been behaving erratically of recent?"

The teenage girl nodded.

Donnie took a deep breath, steeling himself. "Well, the other night, he led us to a Kraang prison. There were well over a dozen mutant prisoners held within."

Instinct wanted April to blurt out Mikey's name, but since Donnie would definitely have said something sooner, she knew that they couldn't have found him there, so instead, she held her tongue and continued looking at him expectantly.

"Many of whom we've never seen before, some good... some bad..." Donnie continued with a sigh. As he spoke, he picked up a nearby pencil, twirling it absentmindedly between his large fingers as if it were a miniature of his bo. "Your father was there too, April."

"Dad?" she gasped in shock. "Is he... was he..."

Donnie nodded reassuringly. "Don't worry, he's free now and most importantly, unhurt. Besides, I have reason to believe they didn't have him for very long this time." With April immediately assured, Donnie resumed his explanation. "Metalhead sacrificed himself in order to allow everyone to escape the facility."

April wilted, flopping into a nearby chair. "Can you rebuild him?"

"I hope so, but not any time soon... Right now, I'm simply trying to access his memory files," Donnie admitted sadly. "Anyway, that's... not all we found, April."

Suddenly fearful, April stared into Donnie's large, pain filled, reddish brown eyes.

"Mikey... Our Mikey wasn't there..." Donnie continued morosely, "but there was another Mikey, apparently from another dimension, being held in that place."

April's eyes shot wide as she stared at her best friend. "What... where is he? What happened?"

"He had nowhere else to go, so we brought him home with us," Donnie admitted with a shrug. "He's sleeping now. Leo said he was out before his head even hit the pillow."

"I can't imagine... God! What must he have gone through at the hands of those monsters?"

"That's a very good question," Donnie mused thoughtfully. "He wasn't exactly very forthcoming when we talked. Although, that being said, it was a struggle just keeping him awake long enough to bring him back here."

"How long was he there?"

Donnie shook his head in disgust. "Months, at least."

-:-

Just after five thirty, Casey arrived, carrying several pizzas. Splinter immediately put three slices away in the fridge, before joining everyone in the pit where Leonardo and Raphael were bringing Casey up to speed as the group ate.

"This brings up so many new possibilities," Leo was saying. "The trouble is, he may not be willing to talk about what happened to him yet, but if we can find out how he was taken, maybe we can find out what happened to our Mikey."

"What makes you think it's even related?" Casey asked incredulously, gesturing with his pizza filled hand. "Your bro went missing just over a month ago, but from what you guys said, this other Mikey had been a prisoner for a hell of a lot longer!"

"While it may not be related, the fact remains that the Kraang were involved in both incidents."

"Incidents?" Raph snorted derisively, taking exception to Leo's tone and wording. "Our brother's disappearance is a mere 'incident' to you? Could you be any colder, Leo?"

"That's not what I meant and you know it, Raph!" Leo immediately retorted in exasperation.

Splinter fixed both brothers with a warning look and they quickly fell silent.

"Well, we know at least that Mikey couldn't have disappeared via portal," Donnie piped up, breaking the uncomfortable silence a few seconds later. "That room was far too small and they'd never have managed to fit the necessary equipment in there. Besides, we saw no signs of anything like it when we originally managed to get in there."

"One end of a portal fit in that porta-potty the other night," Raph glowered, reminding Donnie and Leo of the events leading up to reaching the Kraang prison.

"One entrance and it appeared to be translocation rather than transdimensional," Donnie emphasised. "Besides, even Mikey wouldn't have gone through something like that, not under those circumstances."

"It's Mikey! Of course he would have!" Raph all but exploded in a fit of pique.

All three brothers stared at one another, a sinking feeling weighing down their stomachs and making them feel ill as Raph's words sunk in.

"Let's say for argument's sake that there was one," Leo spoke up calmly a short time later. "He may not have had much choice. There were two Kraang with him in a small, enclosed room. It may have been his only way out."

"If it was the other side of a portal, then maybe..." Donnie said hesitantly. "However, I still maintain that there was no portal equipment within that room, and you both saw the size of the portal and equipment both two nights back and during the invasion. Besides, if they could make portals so small as to fit into that room, then why didn't they just portal in a new power source to replace the one they lost for the original portal at TCRI a few months back?

"There is no way they could have miniaturised the equipment that drastically in so short a time frame."

-:-

Mikey's eyes shot open, taking in the sight of the all pervading darkness surrounding him. Heart pounding frantically, he quickly swallowed his cry of dismay as he realised his rescue was all just another horribly realistic dream. Worse, even though it wasn't the first time he'd had one like it, waking up to the reality of still being a prisoner in that place became harder every time. For untold minutes, he lay there unmoving and smelling the faint stench of 'food', but otherwise, he refused to react. He had no idea why he was being punished in the darkness this time, but he'd sworn long ago not to give them the satisfaction of a reaction if he could at all avoid it

Finally, as his heart rate returned to normal, he pushed himself up, shoving away the blanket covering him. Suddenly, he froze as it hit him. Blanket? The Kraang never gave him such a thing before. Then he realised he was sitting on something much softer and warmer than the cold, metallic ground of his cell. Slowly, almost with disbelief, he turned his head, and calmer than earlier, he could just make out the faint details within the gloom of the room, and the light seeping in from underneath the door.

Michelangelo let out a breath he didn't realise he'd been holding, and in shock whispered, "It wasn't a dream? I really was rescued?" But then sorrow filled his soul again as he remembered, "But I never made it home..."

Reaching out for the blanket he'd unthinkingly shoved aside, he clutched at it, using its softness and warmth to reassure him, before finally releasing it and swinging his feet off the bed onto the ground. Once on his feet, Mikey carefully shuffled his way across the minefield floor, uncertain of where anything might lay.

Arriving at the door, he blindly felt around the frame for the light switch he knew must be there, before flicking it on. Once his eyes adjusted to the sudden change in ambience, Mikey took his first good look at the room around him, jumping in fright at the sight of the looming cut out of some human he'd never seen before beside the door.

Mikey moved back towards the bed, via the only clear path on the floor and chuckled. "Man, and Master Splinter always complained about the mess in my room! Mine's got nothing on this one." He stared around more in curiosity, cringing slightly as he saw all the fast food rubbish. "How the shell this place isn't crawling with cockroaches, I've got no idea!"

As he gazed around from the safety of the bed island surrounded by a sea of garbage, he took in the sight of the action figures, the games, the comics, the empty pizza boxes, well, he hoped they were empty, and posters. To his abject dismay however, he realised nothing at all was familiar; not one comic character or game, and suddenly he felt all the more homesick, all over again.

Mikey let himself fall back onto the bed, sitting with his arms wrapped tightly around himself as it hit him just how different this world was to his own. The realisation that he may never see home again suddenly dawned and he felt sick at the thought of never seeing his family or friends ever again.

"No! Get it together, Michelangelo!" he suddenly commanded himself fiercely, slapping at both cheeks. "You didn't let them break you, that last week or so so didn't count, so you're not going to let some stupid thing like not recognising anything get you down now!"

Taking several deep breaths to calm himself, Mikey looked around once more, taking note again of the rubbish strewn everywhere. Okay, he knew he himself had never been a clean freak, but this was beyond anything he'd seen since that cockroach plague when he and his brothers were eleven. Raph had sworn to beat him black and blue if he'd ever let things get that bad again. "Right! If I'm staying here, the rubbish at least has got to go!" Mikey said aloud to the empty room, comforted by the sound of his own normal, lightly accented, if raspy voice; those last days of only being able to speak in their tones when they commanded it, had really gotten to him. He quickly shoved that unpleasant thought away and spoke again, just to hear himself more. "Later though! I've got other things I have to take care of first."

And with that, aware of his growing need, Mikey bounced to his feet and strode to the door. Once he reached it however, he found himself hesitating, suddenly nervous about actually opening it and stepping out to face this new world. He shook his head vehemently, determined not to let this get to him, and forcing a light smile onto his face he opened the door and stepped out, going in search of the bathroom he barely remembered being shown to the night before.

-:-

Washing his hands and feeling so much better, Mikey couldn't help but find his gaze drawn longingly over to the large, nearby shower. It had been so long since his last one and he'd been craving the feeling of deliciously warm water running over his skin and shell. He bit his lip, knowing he really should go greet his rescuers, but also aware of his own fetor. Wherever he went, the faint stench of that awful stuff they'd called food followed. He could only hope it would wash off easily and hadn't instead seeped into his very shell or something over all that time.

Mikey took a quick drink from the running tap, before noticing a brand new toothbrush still in its packet beside the other brushes. Grinning in sheer delight, he picked it up, ripping the packaging away as he trounced over to the shower stall to turn the hot water tap on to full. Then he ran the few short steps back to the sink and slathered the brush with a thick gob of toothpaste. Sighing with happiness over the simple missed luxury, he shoved the toothbrush into his mouth and started to brush, promptly gagging on the taste.

Wincing with disgust, Mikey picked up the tube to stare at it in bewilderment. He couldn't understand it; he knew the brand, he knew the flavour, but it never tasted like that back home. "Think you dudes need to get new toothpaste," he mumbled, mouth still full of froth. It was only because he needed this so badly after so long, that he was able to keep brushing.

As he brushed, Mikey used his free hand to pull the remains of his nunchaku from their torn and damaged holsters within his cobbled together belt, placing them reverently beside the worn sink. Then, spitting the toothpaste, Mikey stepped into the shower, still clad in belt and torn and raggedy mask.

For several minutes, he simply gloried under the steaming water, rinsing his mouth out and drinking more. Finally removing what was left of his gear, Mikey sat on the tiled floor beneath the flowing water with soap and started scrubbing.

It was long after the water ran cold that Mikey turned the shower off and wrung out his gear. Then he dried off and dressed again. For the first time since before he was captured, he finally felt more like himself again and actually ready to face the world.

So plastering what he hoped was a confident smile on his face, Mikey left the bathroom in search of his other-dimensional family.

-:-

Hearing their voices from the room beyond the end of the passageway he was in, Mikey found himself hesitating, an irrational fear suddenly taking hold. He shook his head fiercely in denial, hating the way he felt; it wasn't him for shell's sake! For several minutes longer, he remained out of sight in the shadows, fighting the unfamiliar instinct to turn and flee back to that bedroom, or better yet, the bathroom where he'd actually felt right again. Finally, forcing himself, Mikey swallowed back his trepidation and stepped out into the light.

"Good morning!" he called cheerfully, a bright smile lighting his face, even if it didn't quite manage to reach his eyes.

The conversation in the room suddenly halted as six unfamiliar, or barely familiar, faces turned towards him.

"It's not morning, it's evening," Donnie pointed out, sounding a little put out over needing to point out what to anyone else was the obvious.

"It's morning somewhere in the world," Mikey tossed back, still holding tightly, almost irrationally, onto his smile. However, he didn't make a move from where he stood only metres from the passageway.

The unfamiliar human male seated between Raph and the female human snickered derisively, "He's got you there, D!"

"Shut up, Jones!" Donnie muttered petulantly.

"And who's gonna make me? You?"

"Ahem!" Splinter cleared his throat meaningfully, before the growing argument could escalate any further. He turned to smile tightly at Michelangelo. "It is good to see you awake at last, Michelangelo. Are you feeling any better?"

Mikey nodded emphatically. "Yeah, heaps! It's been forever since I last slept so well, Sensei! It's amazing what a solid, dreamless sleep can do for a turtle!"

"Indeed," Splinter acknowledged with a faint nod. "Why don't you come join us?"

For a moment, Mikey was startled until he realised he hadn't actually moved any closer and worse, that in the past, he wouldn't even have hesitated to do so in the first place. He swallowed before nodding again, then with much effort, began walking slowly towards the pit the mutant family and human friends sat in. As he joined them, his eyes trailed curiously over the two human teenagers. The red headed girl returned his look with a friendly one of her own, while Jones seemed far more intent on watching Splinter warily, as if worried he would be attacked and eaten. As he carefully sat down on a seat a little away from the others, the girl spoke up.

"You don't know us, do you?" she asked softly.

Without taking his eyes off her, Mikey shook his head silently. He had his suspicions but didn't want to speak up in case he was wrong. It really was one thing to play the fool in front of those that knew and cared for him, or to distract opponents with during a fight, but another thing entirely in front of people he didn't know when he was no longer even sure of his place in the world. He saw her face fall slightly before perking up quickly once more.

"I'm April O'Neil and this...

"Neanderthal," Donnie interjected quietly.

"... is Casey Jones," April finished, shooting Donnie a 'look'.

Mikey's eyes widened in surprise to find he would have been right after all, but then he smiled and said quietly, "Hi Ape, Case-man."

While April seemed to start slightly over the unflattering shortening of her name, her smile grew wider at the recognition. "So you do know us then?" she asked in delight.

"Yeah, you just look really different to the April and Casey I know, that's all, dudette."

"D mentioned you told him everyone looked different."

Mikey nodded, only vaguely remembering that conversation; he'd been so tired at the time.

"Do you prefer to be called Mikey or something else?" April asked curiously.

Stunned by the question, Mikey took a moment to answer. "Mikey or Turtle Titan is the best." There was a derisive snort from somewhere to the side, but Mikey continued with a flicker of amusement, "Only when I'm dressed for the occasion though," he added with a cheeky wink at April.

"Really," someone said dryly; Mikey couldn't tell who.

"Honestly though, it doesn't worry me that much, Michelangelo or Mike is fine too. Anything but 'late for dinner'," he finished, before adding to himself, 'or 'the one known as the prisoner'...'

"Speaking of late for dinner," Splinter began, "perhaps our guest is hungry?" he suggested, shooting his sons a pointed look as he spoke.

Leonardo straightened selfconsciously, "We didn't know when you'd be waking up, but we saved you a few slices of pizza," he offered. "They're in the fridge, would you like me to heat them for you?"

Though he'd been dreaming of pizza, among other things, for so long, Mikey's stomach baulked at the thought of all that grease. However, before he could say anything, April piped up.

"Or since you just woke up not long ago, I could make you some breakfast," she offered. "Maybe some pancakes or eggs on toast?"

"Ooh, I'd kill for some pancakes," Mikey moaned, all but drooling at the thought. That was something else he'd been craving, and while sweet, at least it wouldn't be so greasy. He smiled gratefully at April, "You really know the way to a turtle's heart, you know that?"

"I do?" she blinked. "How?"

"Through his stomach," Mikey quickly replied with a slight laugh.

Shaking her head in amusement at the old joke, April stood, asking as she did, "What would you like on them? Maple syrup? Honey? Do you guys have any bananas or strawberries left?" she asked, looking towards Leo, Donnie and Raph.

"No, we had the last of them with breakfast this morning," Leo replied apologetically.

April nodded, turning back to Mikey, "Well, that option's out."

"It's okay," Mikey smiled faintly. "I'm not sure I could handle too much right now anyway. I'll just have them plain."

Nodding again, April left for the kitchen, and as Mikey watched her go, he became aware of everyone else's eyes fixed on him. He turned back to face them, uncomfortable at the scrutiny but staring back regardless.

"Did they feed you regularly?" Splinter suddenly asked, an almost fatherly concern filling his voice.

Mikey continued to stare, now frozen in place as his mind suddenly transported him back into hell.

"The one known as the Prisoner has refused to eat."

He looks up in fear, realising he can actually hear them through his cell's barrier. As much as hearing something, anything other than himself should come as a relief, hearing them speak those few words did not bode well for him.

"Therefore, the ones known as the Kraang will force the one known as the Prisoner to eat."

Seeing the cattleprods once more in the grasp of his tormentors, he scrambles as far from them as he can manage, not taking into account the Kraang that approach him from behind. Suddenly, every nerve is afire as they shock him repeatedly from behind, and he cannot help screaming in pain. The last thing he remembers before waking again, is hearing them say,

"Whether the one known as the Prisoner likes it or not."

-:-

Hecan'tbreathe!

Writhing uselessly against the tight metallic straps pinning him down, he feels himself drowning; his lungs burning desperately for life giving oxygen.

His heart pounds wildly with terror while he gags from the combination of the taste and smell of the foul, malodorous glop which slowly, but inexorably trickles into his mouth via the tube firmly fixed in place, and he is powerless to stop it.

He thrashes his head violently from side to side in pure desperation. However the breathing mask, which is also designed to hold the stiff tube violating his mouth in place, is impossible to dislodge and he still can't breathe!

The terror-stricken terrapin attempts to cry out in his hysteria, but the lumpy liquid filling both his mouth and most of the mask covering his beak proves to be an effective gag. He attempts to swallow, knowing it's the only way he can make room for the precious oxygen to flow again, but the first time he tried, it only came straight back up again, filling his mouth once more and leaving him in this hellish predicament.

Black spots begin to flood his vision and he knows that if he can't keep the sludge down this time, that this'll be it for him, despite the fact that they say they want him alive. Somehow he manages to swallow but his stomach seethes and convulses from the content assaulting it and as he vomits once more...

"Michelangelo?" Splinter prompted sharply in concern, worried about the terror-stricken look in the other-dimensional turtle's eyes. He shifted, ready to stand and go shake him from his petrified state.

Mikey jumped, startled, and did his best to push the terrible memories of that foul substance being forced down his throat aside. Suddenly he felt hysterical laughter bubble up his throat and he fought to swallow it back down. Unable to trust his voice, he merely nodded, aware of the wary looks he was receiving from the mutants and human around him. Finally, he closed his eyes to shut them out and managed to recollect himself. "Y... yeah," he eventually mumbled.

"Are you okay, Mikey?" someone asked, and Mikey had to open his eyes to look and see who the voice belonged to; other than Donnie and Splinter, he didn't really know any of their voices well enough to tell yet. He found himself looking at Leonardo, whose expression was filled with worry.

"Yeah," he repeated, a little stronger this time. "I'm fine now, dude."

It was obvious that Leo didn't believe him, but he nodded regardless and backed off, and slowly, Mikey managed to somewhat relax again. Suddenly his stomach grumbled loudly enough for everyone around him to hear.

"Perhaps we should move into the kitchen," Splinter suggested. "It smells as though April is almost done."

Mikey frowned. The only thing he could really smell was the faint remnants of the 'food' from his imprisonment; it still followed him everywhere. No amount of scrubbing in the shower earlier had been able to dislodge it and he was surprised no one had actually complained about it yet. "Sounds like a plan," he said, nodding and hoping he seemed eager enough. Despite being hungry, his stomach was still churning from being trapped in that memory.

Casey was the first to his feet, half running towards the kitchen ahead of everyone else. "Hey Red!" he called cheerfully. "I hope you're making enough for the rest of us too!"

April's answer was lost to Mikey as he slowly followed, glancing around the large family area with both curiosity and as a delaying tactic. He started slightly as Donnie suddenly pulled him aside.

"Uh... You'll probably be better off if you don't eat too much, too fast."

"Why dude?" Mikey frowned again, a little annoyed though he wasn't sure why.

"Because it's been a while since you last ate and I'd hate for you to get sick as a result."

"I ate a few hours before you guys saved me," Mikey assured him dismissively. "I'll be fine! I can hardly wait to have real food again, instead of whatever it was they called food."

"That's my point exactly. You last ate some time before we found you," Donnie explained.

"Yeah, so what's the problem, dude?"

"After we arrived back here, you slept for more than a day and a half, which means it's probably been about two days since you last ate."

"R... really?" Mikey asked, staring in shock. Though that did at least explain why he was as hungry as he was; his appetite had diminished significantly during his imprisonment and no wonder.

Donnie nodded.

"Wow... why didn't anyone wake me?"

"Because you obviously needed it. You were almost dead on your feet the other night."

Mikey was silent for a moment. Then, "Heh, yeah. I can barely even remember much of what happened after Leo and Raph went for your van."

"Train car," Donnie corrected quickly.

"Huh?"

"The Shellraiser is made from an old train car which I converted into an armoured, road worthy vehicle complete with weapons."

"That sounds cool! Can I take a better look later?" Mikey asked with a hopeful grin.

"Sure," Donnie smiled weakly. "Anyway, my point is to take it slow and don't eat too much right away. You can always return for more later, as often as you want to or need to."

Mikey nodded, pleased to hear that he was welcome to help himself. "Don't worry, Don, my stomach's practically made of cast iron," he said, giving his lower plastron a light thump with his left fist. With that, he strode quickly for the kitchen and sat in one of the two remaining seats, looking all around as he did.

"Nice kitchen!" Mikey whistled appreciatively. "It's so bright and airy, especially considering it's in a sewer!"

April giggled, placing a plate with a few pancakes in front of him. "Yeah, it's great. Believe it or not but it's better equipped than my Aunt's kitchen. Just don't let any of these guys try to cook though. If you do, it quickly becomes a disaster." She leaned close and whispered conspiratorially, "None of them can cook to save their lives!"

"Hey! I cook a pretty mean cup noodle!" Casey protested loudly.

"Whatever Jones," April waved her hand dismissively. "That's not cooking, that's just pouring in boiling water and letting it sit awhile."

Mikey chortled, "Nice to know some things are the same then." He glanced cheekily over to Leo. "Do you also destroy poor, innocent toasters like my Leo does?"

"No!" Leo automatically protested.

"Well, there was that one time," Donnie ventured with a small smile.

"And since then, Leo's been banned from touching anything in here other than the kettle," Raph added snidely with a smirk of amusement.

"You should eat them before they get cold," April smiled, lightly nudging Mikey's arm as she spoke and causing him to flinch at her unexpected touch.

April tried to hide her dismay but Mikey caught it anyway and felt bad over his reaction. To make up for it, he immediately cut a huge chunk of pancake off and shoved it into his mouth.

The smell, already made bad enough just by smelling it, hit him twice as hard and the taste almost made him gag. For several moments, Mikey sat there, staring down at his plate in shock, unable to swallow. It didn't take long before he began to shake.

He was free now! There was no one around to force him to eat that fetid slime anymore and he had real food in front of him again.

So why did it taste and smell like nothing had even changed?

-:-

To be continued

A/N: Part of the flashback quoted from 'The Situation' ch 5.

Please let me know what you think :-)