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 are always welcome.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone!

Edited to add: Greys-giovana drew another awesome art for one of the scenes of this chapter, it's available on Deviant Art http:(backslash)(backslash) (backslash) dat655v Thank you :-) (pst! She is also responsible for the cover art for both this story and for 'AOtGO' itself)

AOtGO – Aftermath

Ch 5

Date : 20th Sept

Mikey began humming loudly enough to fill the void, not even stopping his tune as he knocked heavily on the lab door. When there was no answer the lost turtle let himself in, only to find the room empty. Biting his lower lip, Mikey turned around and began searching the rest of the lair, stopping only to turn the television on for desperately needed background noise.

As Michelangelo poked his head into the deserted dojo, realisation that once again he was all alone hit him and it was all he could do not to break down at the terrifying thought.

For several minutes he stood in the doorway, staring in at nothing as he fought to fight his rising panic and too quick breaths. "I haven't been abandoned. This is their home, they'll be back," he whispered over and over like a mantra, trying desperately to convince his heart of what his head knew to be true.

Finally, he managed to pry apart his clenched fists and instead brought his hands into contact with the remains of his ruined nunchucks, allowing the familiar cracked and damaged wood to soothe him as it did so many times while in captivity. Calmer now, Mikey gazed around the dojo. He'd been shown it just a couple of hours or so ago during his tour, but he hadn't really given it much notice. At the time, he'd been far too distracted by the looming threat of being dragged into the lab for tests to be able to take much of the lair in.

Now his jaw dropped at the sight of the huge, healthy tree thriving underground, and without realising, took a step towards it, then another. The moment his toes hit the first of the worn, yet still beautiful rugs, the spell was broken, and fully cognizant of where he was, he bowed deeply in respect for the room and its teachings, before stepping onto the rug properly and gazing around in abject wonder.

Slowly, Mikey wandered the room, absorbing the atmosphere and surprisingly bright airiness. He gazed at the weapons racks with a faint smile, gawped at the traditional Japanese screen that his Leo would have killed for, and breathed deeply by the tree, hoping to be soothed by its natural fragrance. Unfortunately, pretty much all he could still smell was the awful odour of that stuff his captors had called food. However, he wasn't sure if it was wishful thinking or not, but he thought he could detect a faint fresh woody scent behind it.

Reaching the tree, Mikey noticed the altar and found himself drawn to it. In wonder and curiosity over who the people were, he reached out to touch the displayed family photo, a strange melancholy filling his soul.

"Are you feeling any better, Michelangelo?" an accented voice suddenly spoke from behind, causing Mikey to jump and whirl about, hands automatically drawing the remains of his weapons and holding them at the ready as though kali sticks. Upon realising it was Splinter that snuck up on him, he immediately sheathed them once more, before turning back to the photo.

"Yeah... Where's everyone else, Master Splinter?" he asked, his voice hollow and distant sounding, even to his own hearing.

"They returned to the location in which they lost their brother a month ago," Splinter explained, coming to stand by his right side. "Upon meeting you, they realised there was a chance that maybe the reason they cannot find any trace of him could be because he is trapped in another dimension."

"Oh..." Mikey muttered distantly. He hoped not, because if that was the case they could search forever and never find him. "How... did he disappear?"

"In an altercation with the Kraang."

Mikey stiffened at the sound of their name and the unwanted memories it conjured. He clenched his fists tightly enough that he could feel his nails digging into the flesh of his palms. "I hope for his sake that they don't have him," he said softly, vehemently.

Splinter cast a sideways look at Michelangelo, noticing how on edge the other dimensional turtle became at the mere mention of the Kraang. "Do not worry, Michelangelo. If they did have him, I doubt they hold him any longer."

Mikey swallowed painfully but didn't return the look, just continuing to stare forwards at that photo on the shrine. "What makes you think that?"

"While in the spiritual plane a little over a week ago, Leonardo connected to his brother's spirit ever so briefly," Splinter explained. "While he could not ascertain the full situation, it did not appear to involve any of them."

Mikey nodded silently, a lump in his throat preventing him from speaking. He'd tried so hard and so often to connect with his family through the Astral Plain, and yet never managed to. He wasn't sure if he was happy or upset that his own counterpart succeeded where he'd failed.

After a while, Splinter spoke up once more, breaking the uncomfortable silence. "Donatello said you'd needed some time alone."

Glancing up at the much taller ninjutsu master, Mikey let loose a brief, humourless laugh. "You'd think... after all that time alone that I wouldn't be able to handle being by myself again for even a minute. Especially since I never really liked being alone in the first place."

"I am certain that everything would seem a little overwhelming right now," Splinter observed calmly. "Sometimes time alone can be of help to get your head around things."

"Yeah... I guess," Mikey nodded. After a few seconds of silence, he spoke up again. "I was so alone for so long, Master Splinter... there was no one to talk to, no one to listen to me... There was only them and their creepy eyes... They were always watching me, Sensei. Every minute of every day. They... they never stopped.

"It didn't even matter to them what I was doing... eating, sleeping... training... even … even relieving myself... Whatever I did, they were there and watching me! Constantly."

The words were soft but still they poured out like a leak in a cracked dam, unable to be plugged due to the sheer pressure behind them. Splinter didn't say a word. Instead, he just stood listening silently, patiently, as his alternate dimensional son spilled his guts.

One hand snaked its way up his arm to his elbow, yet Mikey still stood facing the photo on the small shrine, unable to bring himself to look over at the mutant rat. "I... I guess they wanted to learn everything they could about me, training and whatever else... so they could use it against your family..."

"That is quite possible," Splinter agreed quietly. "We have been open enemies since the first night my sons went topside."

"I'm sorry... Whenever I did try to train in that place, the crowd watching me grew. I knew it and still kept right on doing it... I had no choice, Master Splinter!" Mikey suddenly cried out, whirling to finally look the humanoid rat in the eyes, expecting disappointment from the ninjutsu master and needing to see the devastating truth for himself. "I knew they wanted to learn by watching me, but I kept right on doing it anyway! I... I needed to, or... or I would have gone insane in that place!"

"It is quite alright, Michelangelo," Splinter soothed gently.

"No! It's not! It was selfish of me! They learned secrets they never should have!" Mikey spat, fully hating himself for his weakness during the long months of his capture. "I needed something to focus on to take my mind off the boredom and loneliness and I betrayed you guys in the process!"

Splinter quickly stepped forward, wrapping his arms tightly around the distraught turtle, simply holding him close until his shaking died down. "I would rather you have kept up your training if you were able than not to do so. Especially if it helped you to get through that deplorable situation."

Mikey sniffled loudly, though there were no signs of tears. "I... I told myself, kept telling myself it was so I could be ready in case I ever got a chance to escape, but... I just..."

"You never found an opportunity?" Splinter asked, interrupting Michelangelo before he could blame himself further for doing what he had to do to survive.

"Just once..." Mikey eventually admitted, standing stiffly in Splinter's embrace. While he wanted so badly to return the hug from this unusual other-dimensional version of his father, he didn't feel like he deserved to take comfort from it. "It didn't end so well..."

"What happened?" came the softly spoken question.

Unable to bring himself to talk about it further, Mikey shook his head mutely and pulled away, facing the altar once more to avoid looking into the sensei's eyes. His temporary escape had had terrible consequences that had led to so much pain, uncertainty and terror.

As Splinter stood there waiting for Michelangelo to speak up once more, Mikey suddenly nodded towards the photo, going out of his way to change the subject.

"So... who are they?"

Splinter looked to the photo in surprise. "They are my family. My wife, my daughter and myself."

"Really?" Mikey whipped his head around to stare at Splinter in shock. "You used to be human?"

"Of course," Splinter replied in bemusement.

"Seriously?" When Splinter nodded, Mikey continued. "That explains the really odd vibe I've been getting from you."

Splinter quirked his eyebrows. "Odd vibe, Michelangelo?"

Mikey darkened as the blood rushed to his face. "Uh... I don't mean that in a bad way. Just... different. Weird!"

"Weird?" Splinter echoed again, doing his best to hide his amusement.

Mikey's blush deepened as he realised he was just digging himself in deeper. "Eh heh... uh... do you mind if I shut up now, before I stick my foot in it so far I can't get it out again?"

Now Splinter allowed himself to chuckle. "My own Michelangelo wouldn't have even asked. He would have just kept going until he choked himself."

Mikey's grin was small but sheepish. "Heh! I probably would normally too," he admitted quietly, looking away again, "but... I know I haven't quite bounced back yet."

"That is understandable, Michelangelo."

Mikey quickly nodded towards the photo again, "So... if you were human, who were you then?"

Splinter canted his head as he looked sadly but fondly at the reminder of the precious memories of the past. "My name was Hamato Yoshi; my wife, Tang Shen; and my daughter, Miwa."

Mikey's jaw all but hit the ground as he stared at Splinter as if seeing a ghost. Splinter gazed back, vaguely bemused by the turtle's reaction.

"What is the matter, Michelangelo?"

For a moment Mikey stood there, mouth gaping like a goldfish. "That makes you my grandpa," he admitted once he could bring himself to speak again. Suddenly, Mikey straightened as the realisation of what he'd said hit. "Can I call you that?" he asked eagerly.

"I am not old enough to be anyone's grandfather. I am only forty," Splinter admitted with a chuckle. "What would possess you to think of me as such anyway?"

Mikey glanced nervously back towards the tree. "Can we sit?"

"Of course."

Once there and seated comfortably, Mikey pulled out one of his broken nunchaku handles from its raggedy leather holster and clutched it tightly with both hands. Taking a deep breath, he then told Splinter the story of how his own Splinter had started life as the pet of Tang Shen, and how after she died, the Hamato Yoshi of his world had taken the pet with him to start anew in New York City. He spoke of his father learning by constantly watching and mimicking the human who cared for him so lovingly, and how his Splinter had come to consider Yoshi as both a Master and father figure. Mikey then told of how Yoshi too had been murdered and how the rat escaped, only to find his brothers and himself in the mutagen and how they all changed soon after. Then he talked about how they'd grown up on stories of the human who, if still alive, would have essentially been their grandfather. Throughout the story, Splinter stayed silent, listening intently to the otherworldly tale.

After some time Mikey fell quiet, staring anxiously up at the former human in front of him.

"Your world's Hamato Yoshi sounds like quite the hero, Michelangelo," Splinter finally observed.

"He was... I only wish we could have met him," Mikey admitted. Then he smiled softly. "At least now I can say I met you."

"But I am not the same person. I did not experience those events," Splinter pointed out, brows raised.

Mikey shrugged. "Doesn't matter, you're still him. Just another dimensional version of him," he said matter-of-factly. Then with a faint mischievous smile, quickly added, "Grandpa."

Splinter shook his head in mild exasperation. "I must say you quite surprise me, Michelangelo."

Mikey couldn't help but lean away, unable to hide his wariness at Splinter's sudden statement. "How..." he swallowed. "How so, Sensei?"

"For someone who has been alone with no one to talk to for so long, your voice isn't even showing any signs of strain after all that talking."

"Heh! Yeah, well, Raph always did say I like the sound of my own voice. And he's right," Mikey added, unwilling to meet Splinter's eyes or elaborate further. Throughout his long months of imprisonment, he'd often talked back to, or outright mocked them, but that wasn't the main reason he'd spoken so much. After all, he couldn't even be sure they were listening. No, the real reason he'd spoken so much during that time was simply to hear something. The forcefield barrier surrounding him cut out all sound from the outside, so unless they were actively giving him orders, there was never anything but the dreadfully monotonous white noise to hear. As a result, he'd needed to fill it as often as he could.

That and he'd been terrified of losing himself there. He'd sworn early on not to let them break him, not to give them the satisfaction, and he'd done fairly well, he thought.

At least, until that last week or so...

Mikey swallowed and clenched his fists tightly again, not noticing his nails starting to dig in hard enough to draw blood.

Splinter immediately reached over to take first one hand, then the other, gently opening each fist while Mikey stared at his actions, startled.

"You do not need to speak of things you do not wish to speak of just yet, Michelangelo," Splinter soothed in an understanding tone. "However, know that I am here when you are ready. Even if it should be in the middle of the night."

Mikey nodded numbly, shifting his gaze up to meet Splinter's warm one once again.

"My sons should be returning home shortly unless they found a lead to their brother or ran into trouble on the surface. Curfew is at midnight."

"Midnight?" Mikey asked distantly. "Why so early?"

"They are only fifteen and training begins at seven thirty," Splinter explained. "While you may take a few days to adjust if you like, I do expect you to join us while you are with us. Do not worry, I am aware you will need time to recoup your strength and stamina so I will go easier on you to begin with."

Mikey nodded, grateful to be included. "But seven thirty? That's practically the crack of dawn," he protested faintly. "I'll never be able to wake up on time."

"I am sure your sleep pattern is... how would you younger people say it? 'Out of whack'? After your recent experiences you would need to readjust anyway. I am certain you will do fine."

Mikey cringed. 'Out of whack' or not, he knew he'd have trouble adjusting to getting up that early.

"What time does your own family usually train?"

"More like ten thirty or eleven," Mikey shrugged. He looked away again, irrationally feeling as though he'd be judged for his family's different habits.

"Why would you train so late? You have the most energy first thing in the morning."

"That is first thing! Seriously, Sensei! It's not like we can go topside during the day anyway, so we're up most of the night instead. Besides, those hours suit Master Splinter better anyway."

Splinter canted his head curiously. "Why would it be better for your sensei?"

"He was born a normal rat, remember?" Mikey shrugged. "They're far more active at night than in the day."

"Ah, that does make sense."

"Perzactly! It's also far easier to scavenge for food and supplies while it's dark too," Mikey further elaborated.

"I see."

"Um... Sensei? There's something I don't understand," Mikey began with trepidation as a thought that had been bugging him for the last few minutes reared its head again.

Splinter raised his eyebrows. "You know you may ask anything," he prompted when the turtle hesitated.

"One... one of your family is missing but you're keeping everyone else to a curfew instead of letting them look all night. We... you can't go out in the day to search, so... so why don't you let them search as much as they can... until dawn?"

"That is a fair question and I assure you, I do have good reason, Michelangelo," Splinter admitted.

When Mikey raised his eyes to look questioningly at the humanoid rat, Splinter stood and walked over to the shrine, silently staring at it with his back ramrod straight and his hands clasped behind. After a time, he finally spoke up.

"When our Michelangelo first disappeared, I allowed the rest of my sons to do just that. They would search until dawn every night, many a time cutting it far too close and almost being spotted by the humans above. I even scaled our usual training regimen down to a mere hour a day so they could get the rest they needed to continue searching come nightfall. Unfortunately, the days went on with no sign of their brother anywhere..."

"So you just gave up?" Mikey whispered, feeling betrayal as if it were him they were talking about instead of his lost counterpart.

Splinter shook his head sharply but didn't turn to look. "Of course not! However, searching was taking its toll on them. When they came home after dawn, they should have been going immediately to bed, resting, but even when they did, they were always up again soon after," he explained. "Donatello would search the internet and CCTV constantly; Leonardo would practise himself into exhaustion, often to the point of collapse, and Raphael..." Splinter trailed off and sighed. None of it had been pretty.

"In their desperation, they weren't coping with the change in their schedules. My sons were constantly exhausted and worse, becoming sloppy. After a few weeks of allowing this to continue and a few extremely close calls topside, close calls that my sons tried to hide, I had enough. Both for their sakes and Michelangelo's, I forbade them from going out one night."

Mikey gave a nod that he knew Splinter couldn't see.

"That was the night Leonardo connected with Michelangelo within the Astral Plain."

"Oh..." Mikey said softly

"Leonardo, ever so briefly, saw through his brother's eyes that night, and though he was in trouble at the time, Leonardo saw someone he felt sure would help." Splinter finally turned around, facing Michelangelo where he still sat. "That was also the first time we began to suspect that perhaps Michelangelo was trapped in another dimension somehow. Though Donatello swears there was no dimensional equipment at the site they lost him at."

"The first time?" Mikey echoed faintly. "What was the second?"

Splinter gave a small smile. "When they discovered you two nights back."

Mikey stared up at Splinter from where he still sat, speechless.

"That first night was a little over a week ago now," Splinter explained. "It was after that that I decided to reinstate the curfew once more. Leonardo, Raphael and Donatello cannot help Michelangelo if they burn themselves out, or get themselves injured or killed in the process. Does that answer your question sufficiently?"

Mikey nodded without a word, swallowing once more.

At that moment, Splinter's ears twitched and he looked towards the dojo entrance. "My sons have just returned," he said. "Do not stay up much longer, Michelangelo. You may have slept much in the past two days but you are obviously still in need your rest."

Mikey nodded again, acknowledging him. It was true, he still felt pretty done in. Standing and doing his best to smile, Mikey said softly, "Thanks for the company and the ear." Then he headed towards the door.

"Michelangelo," Splinter suddenly called out as Mikey neared the exit. Mikey turned back to face him and Splinter continued, "Do not forget what I said. My door is open to you any time of the day or night should you feel the need to talk."

"Thanks, Sensei," Mikey replied with an appreciative smile, before allowing it to turn mischievous. "Goodnight grandpa!" he called and quickly stepped out of the room.

As Mikey left, he was sure he heard Splinter mutter, "I can see this Michelangelo will be just as much of a handful as my own son."

And for the first time he could remember since he saved Donnie and this all began, his laugh, though quiet, was real.

-:-

A/N: After much debate, I decided to post ch 5 of 'Aftermath' instead of ch 26 of 'AOtGO' for a couple of reasons. One, I am slightly unsure of a developing subplot in the other and wish to think on it more and two, the main reason, is that today is Christmas. While neither story is Christmassy, I thought the more positive ending of this chapter was better suited for being posted on this day of the year.

Thank you, everyone, for your support through the year. It means far more than you could realise.

* 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.