Rating: T

Warnings: Overall story - Brief mentions of torture. Bit of language.

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. He's finally been rescued but there are still two major problems; he's still desperately missing his family and he has no way home. No OCs. 2k3/2k12 crossover.

A/N:

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Edited to add: I just found out from a friend that FFNet has changed the way they email about updates. it is now Opt-in. And you have to renew every 6 months. Or they just STOP sending emails about updates.

So if you, like her, haven't been getting emails about updates, now you know why.

One option you can use to avoid missing that a story has been updated is to Favourite. Then, when it updates, it will always show on your favourites list when it was last updated.

Mikemasters Z KAI: Thank you. Yeah, they have a bad habit of underestimating their own Mikey so know Mikey is a Mikey too, they just subconsciously assume... At any rate, at least they'll learn. Don't worry, I definitely plan to for Mikey to get the chance to show Leo and Raph what he's capable of. It's just going to take a little time before he's ready, is all.

KaylaMicael: Thank you! Mikey's recovery will have ups and downs but he'll get there. At least in some ways. Early on will probably be frustrating for him though... Yeah, to some extent, at least, he definitely realises based on the way they react to him but the good thing is, they are at least improving (slowly) in their interactions with him and hopefully, they'll improve with their own brother eventually. If not, their Mikey will probably have things to say after his time in the 2k3 universe XD

Guest: Thank you :-) Yeah, there will be some events from canon coming up in this story but I don't plan on going too deeply into them as this isn't meant to be a rewrite with a different character and it will be going off on its own track after one particular event happens. Sorry but 'Fungus Humungus' happened prior to where this story began (which was 'Metalhead Rewired'.)

AOtGO – Aftermath

Ch 21

Date: 29th Sept

It was late by the time Mikey and Raph returned, just shy of being late for curfew and Mikey felt relaxed and pleasantly exhausted to the point he thought he might actually manage to sleep for once. When they jumped over the turnstiles and into the lair proper, however, his mood instantly soured as he saw Leonardo and Donatello waiting for them, the latter obviously agitated and the former annoyed and disappointed. Mikey twitched; they hadn't done anything wrong.

"Why would you take Mike out, Raphael? You know he's in no shape to handle a fight right now!"

Raphael scowled back and crossed his arms across his plastron aggressively.

"There's no telling how he'd react if you come across the Kraang so soon!"

Mikey flinched. Not just from hearing their name but also from Leo's attitude and particularly the way he just assumed without even asking.

"Seriously, Leo?" Raph scoffed in annoyance. "As soon as we walk in the door you start lecturing us like we're a pair of five-year-olds?" he asked, stomping forward to get into Leonardo's face. His arms uncrossed as his hands grabbed at the handles of his sais as if preparing for things to turn physical. "You seriously think I'm that stupid as to take Mike into a fight? We never even left the fucking sewers and even if we did, I can fucking take care of myself and protect him!"

Mikey flinched again as Raph jabbed his thumb violently in his direction.

"I can't believe you just assumed instead of asking, Leo," he whispered, hurt filling him as he tried desperately not to shake. This dimension was so, so wrong and he just wanted to go home to his family where he'd have the support he needed and the benefit of the doubt. A place where, while they bickered and fought frequently, they left the toxic and overbearing masculinity at the door. He wanted the warmth and understanding of his brothers, not these strangers who only bore a passing resemblance to them. "We didn't go topside because Sensei said not to but he said nothing about not being allowed in the sewers and I needed to get out before I went nuts so Raph took me skating. In the sewers. We never even peeked out through a grate or manhole cover at any time!"

Leonardo's expression turned surprised and shamed even as Donatello's became concerned.

"And by the way? I know I'm still getting my strength back and all but I'm not made of glass and I can take care of myself too," Mikey scowled, his voice growing stronger even as he had to work harder to hide his shaking. No longer able to stand here and take any more of this, he shook his head and left, storming away to his borrowed bedroom to get away from them all.

"Way to go, Lame-o-nardo!" Raph sneered. "Just when he'd actually relaxed!"

"What do you mean?" Donnie asked, brow furrowed in bewilderment. "If anyone's had problems today, it's been us. Mike's been fine. Mostly, at least."

"After having to walk on eggshells around us all day? That's what you think!" Raph scoffed derisively, rolling his eyes. "He's been feeling trapped for a while now and it's been getting worse every day. You guys just haven't noticed because he's been fucking hiding it."

Leo and Donnie exchanged confused looks.

"How the heck did you notice then?" Leo asked, staring him down in disbelief.

"You're not exactly, uh... the most empathetic of turtles," Donnie pointed out carefully, trying to avoid riling Raph further.

"And why should Mike feel trapped here, anyway? This is our home, not a small cell like back in the Kraang prison."

"Look, I just get it, okay?" Raph retorted, glaring daggers at his brothers. It was something they never understood. That pure need to get out and away from the stifling feeling born of being kept inside and underground in close quarters with each other the whole time. "Besides, even a damn castle would start to feel like a prison if you could never fucking leave it."

Donnie looked chagrined as he glanced at Leo. "Raph has a point, you know. Maybe... if you two help me by at least purifying the metal we picked up, I can fix the spare nunchakus sooner and then we can at least take Mike topside for some air in a few days."

"You know Master Splinter doesn't want him going topside yet," Leo reminded him stiffly.

Donnie grimaced. "I know but if we talk to him and explain things, promise to make sure Mike stays out of any altercations, I'm sure he'll see the sense of it," he said thoughtfully."Besides..."

"Besides what?"

"There's always the chance that keeping him down here too long could prove detrimental to his recovery in the long run," Donnie admitted reluctantly. "If he doesn't get back on that proverbial horse quickly enough, he might end up scared to go up when the time comes for him to go."

Raph narrowed his eyes in warning. "Or he could just take off on his own outta desperation." Which was something Raph himself often did. He practically dared Leo to comment but thankfully his straight-laced brother kept quiet.

"Did you take him out tonight because you thought he might've done that?" Donnie asked, watching Raph curiously.

Raph shrugged. "I would've, probably days ago. Him though? Dunno. I don't think he was quite at that point yet but I bet he's been thinking about it."

"Alright," Leo sighed reluctantly. "I'll talk to Master Splinter after training tomorrow and then come to work the metal in the afternoon."

"Thanks, Leo."

"For now though, it's late and we should get to bed. We might've had today off but Master Splinter won't give us another off tomorrow."

-:-

Donatello yawned as he finally packed up his equipment for the night. Despite Leonardo's 'suggestion' of bed, he'd returned to his lab to finish up what he'd been working on and then let time get away from him. Before he knew it, it was almost three in the morning and he had to be up in another four hours.

Wearily, he switched the lab light off and pulled the door closed behind him, only to start in surprise as he saw the kitchen light on. Wondering if someone had gotten up for a drink or perhaps if no one remembered to turn the light off, he changed direction and headed for the kitchen. There, he stopped in the doorway in surprise to see Michelangelo sitting at the table, a sandwich in hand. The thing that shocked Donatello the most was how utterly distraught the other turtle looked as he gazed down at the uneaten sandwich, looking an unhealthy pale green.

"You guys just haven't noticed because he's been fucking hiding it." Raph's voice echoed in his head.

Donnie frowned. Raph had been talking about something completely different but the sentiment still stood, he was suddenly sure. They'd all noticed Mike's reluctance to eat even when his stomach grumbled and while what Raph told them several days ago went a long way to explaining things, it didn't explain everything and Raph hadn't been privy to anything further. Donnie had known there was more to it all along but he hadn't said anything out of a desire to give Mike time and a chance to talk about it when he was ready.

Suddenly, Michelangelo sighed in resignation as his stomach grumbled loudly and he reluctantly picked up the sandwich, lifting it slowly to his mouth. Keeping silent so as to not disturb the other turtle, Donnie watched as Mike took a bite and started chewing, only to shudder and swallow it down too quickly as he half-choked on it.

For a moment, he fought not to throw up, then forced the rest of the sandwich into his mouth, swallowing it almost whole and choking briefly before laying his head on the table miserably, shaking and shuddering and trying hard not to dry reach.

Donnie's concern spiked and he frowned. He could no longer wait for Mike to come to him of his own accord; he needed answers now.

"Why are you up so late?" Donnie asked as he abruptly walked into the kitchen.

Mike jumped to his feet in fright, whirling around to stare at him, eyes wide with... guilt, Donnie realised in shame.

"It's not that late, Don, it's only," his eyes darted to the clock on the wall, "two forty-five."

Donnie fixed his eyes on the deflecting turtle. "Considering we need to be up at seven, this is extremely late. You haven't kept what passes for normal time for you for the better part of a year and you've been here and adjusting to our hours for over a week now so that argument doesn't fly. You're using it as an excuse for what's really keeping you up."

Mike slumped in defeat and let out a humourless chuckle. "Guess I've lost my touch. I used to be a lot better at covering up when things bother me."

"I'm sure you have after so long away from everyone," Donnie replied with a frown. He went to the sink for a glass of water before joining Mike at the table and sitting down. He motioned for the other turtle to sit again as well, which he did, looking very much as though he was being led to slaughter. "Mike, I know we can't take the place of your true family, but despite being from different dimensions, you are still family and we are here for you."

"I know."

"So then?"

Mike sighed and looked down at the empty plate in front of him. "Just nightmares, okay?"

Pursing his lips in disbelief, Donnie just stared at Michelangelo and Michelangelo squirmed uncomfortably under his gaze. "I know it's more than just nightmares, Mike."

"Isn't that enough though?" Mikey asked despairingly, pushing himself back to his feet in agitation and looking like he was ready to run again.

"Sit down, Mike," Donnie commanded, gazing at him intently until Mike reluctantly sat again. His eyes softened once he did. "Maybe if you spoke to someone about them, it would help but that's not actually why you're up now, is it?"

Michelangelo squirmed again.

"I couldn't help but notice you barely ate again at dinner tonight, despite the feast you made for us. You didn't even have any cake, for that matter."

"Wasn't hungry..." Mike muttered petulantly.

"And yet you were hungry enough to eat a sandwich now. Which you had to force down."

Mike's eyes widened again, this time, the terror clear in them. "You... saw that?" he choked out in horror.

"I did," Donnie confirmed with a sharp nod. "I also heard your stomach growling and saw that you barely managed to keep the sandwich down. What's going on, Mike? I know it's not just because the Kraang force-fed you."

"How do you know about that?" Mike whispered, cringing in shame.

"We needed to know so Raph told us," Donnie replied bluntly. There was no point in hiding how he knew. He only hoped it wouldn't destroy the other turtle's burgeoning trust in Raphael. "However, he didn't tell us anything else or any details. Just the fact that they tied you down and force-fed you."

Mike's eyes closed and he slumped in pain.

"So tell me what's really going on, Mike. The truth, please."

"You won't leave this alone, will you, Don?"

"Not when it's clearly causing you problems," Donnie replied gently. "I'm worried about you."

Clenching his fists, Mikey swallowed anxiously as he struggled to make himself speak. "It wasn't that I refused to eat while I was there but that it wasn't edible. I couldn't keep it down. Shell, even the smell made me want to blow chunks so that's why they tied me down and force-fed me until I learnt to keep it down. They basically drowned me in it until I did," he finally admitted in a whisper. "As for n-now, I... I can't taste anything except for that sludge they gave me. For some reason, it's still lingering and it's always stronger whenever I do eat," he explained, eyes darting up to glance at Donnie fearfully as he spoke. Then closing his eyes and shaking in fear and pain at the terrifying memories, he whimpered in despair, "Wh-what did they do to me, Don?"

Donnie gazed at Michelangelo in growing horror. "I don't know, Mike. I need more information. Do you have the same problem when you drink or is it only when you eat?"

Mike hesitated a moment, then nodded. "When I drink plain water, it's not so bad but anything else with taste? Yes... Shell, even the toothpaste tastes revolting and I know it's not just some dimensional thing. We have the same brand back home and I've spent time in other dimensions before and I never had a problem then. It's... it's either something they did to me or something that 'food' did."

Donnie nodded absently as his thoughts raced. He had so many questions but most would have to wait until after training when he could run some tests. "Is the taste stronger or weaker depending on the strength of the flavour of the food?"

Mikey hesitated again as he thought. "Yes. Like, plain toast isn't quite as bad but if I put any spreads on it or even that fruit toast..."

"So eating bland food isn't as bad then. No wonder you reacted so badly to the pizza gyoza the other night," Donnie mused.

Mikey shuddered again, remembering the way he'd raced for the toilet and violently thrown up. It had been one of the grossest things he'd ever eaten and considering some of the things he'd been forced to eat growing up or even out in space, that was saying a lot.

Donnie focused sharply on Mikey again. "Sense of taste and smell are related. One often affects the other. How is your sense of smell?"

Mikey canted his head as he considered the question. "I still smell it too, all the time, but... I think it's getting fainter? But that might just depend on the strength of whatever smells are around me too. I... really don't know."

"Which I guess is why you didn't notice the rotten egg smell in your room. Leo told me about it when we did the garbage run that night," Donnie added at the confused expression on Mike's face. His mouth twisted in a wry smile. "The Shellraiser still reeks from that, by the way."

Mike grimaced apologetically. "Sorry, I didn't know they were under the bed and accidentally broke them while I was cleaning but heh, I'm surprised Raph didn't say anything about it. He was practically choking on it that night."

"As I said, he didn't tell us much," Donnie replied with a small smile. "Raph believes very strongly in personal privacy so he's been quite protective of yours."

Mikey nodded in relief at the proof.

"Mike, what you just told me isn't something small. In fact, I'd say it's pretty major so why in Einstein's name didn't you say something sooner?"

Mikey's mouth worked as he tried to come up with an answer. "I... you guys have enough on your plate without worrying about me and you're already going out of your way each day to help me."

Donnie twitched and it was all he could do not to snap. "Are you afraid of wearing out your welcome or something?"

Michelangelo nodded reluctantly.

"Of all the stupid! Mike! You're family! I don't care that you're from another dimension, you're still family! We are not going to kick you out, not now, not ever! Do you understand?"

"You say that now but you'll probably get sick of me sooner or later," Mikey muttered, "and if I keep whining about stuff and letting on just how messed up I am, it'll probably be sooner."

Donnie sucked in air through his teeth, seething. "Mike, you need to understand something right now. Even if we never find a way to get you home and you're stuck here for the rest of your life, we will not throw you out! If you somehow feel you aren't earning your keep, trust me on this, you are! By taking on the cooking alone, you are worth more than your weight in gold and that's before also taking on the responsibility of ordering the groceries so you can stop thinking and feeling that way right now!" Closing his eyes, he stopped and breathed a moment. When he opened them again, he was calmer and he smiled wanly at the shocked ninja opposite him. "You know, I think if our Mikey wasn't currently missing, you and Raph would be good friends already in particular."

"Huh?" Mikey stared, sitting up straighter in confusion.

"It's not just because you're another Michelangelo, it's because I've seen the way Raph acts around you. When you're not feeling overwhelmed, you give back as good as you get and he respects that," Donnie pointed out. He'd noticed the way Raph seemed to delight in the way Mikey mouthed off and at Leo in particular. "As you know, he's rough and based on what you've told me about your family, likely rougher than your own Raph but he seems to genuinely care about you. He's certainly reaching out to you and that's unusual because he normally keeps everyone but Casey and his old pet Spike at arm's length. I truly believe, given time, you'll fit in quite well here, even when we do find our missing brother so I want you to stop hiding things from us from now on. In fact, I want you to make me a promise."

"Wh-what promise?" Mikey stammered nervously, blown away by what Donnie had just said and the utter sincerity he'd said it in.

"I want you to promise to never hide things from us again. Especially when it's something that affects you like this," Donnie insisted, leaning forward a little to show how serious he was. "Maybe we won't be able to help then and there, maybe the timing might be bad but I want you to promise to talk to someone the first chance you get when something is bothering you and I don't care who it is. It could be me, Leo, Master Splinter, April or even Raph. Darwin's beard! You could even talk to that dunderhead Casey if that's who you need to talk to, just make sure you talk to someone."

"I... I dun..."

"Please Mike," Donnie beseeched desperately. "This can't happen again! You can't keep something so serious from us again!"

Mike swallowed uncomfortably. "I'm sorry, Don, I just..."

"I know," Donnie interrupted, "but I don't want you to be sorry, I want you to promise to talk to someone instead of keeping things to yourself! It's self-destructive and it's not going to help you in the long run!"

"Alright," Mike answered reluctantly, hanging his head. Donnie could see, however, a hint of relief in the other turtle's eyes. "I promise."

"Thank you," Donnie breathed in relief. He closed his eyes a moment, the tiredness of the late night and emotional outburst getting to him. Come training, he was going to be completely wrecked but it was worth it to finally find out what Mike had been hiding and he knew his father would agree. "Now, I can't promise to be able to help you but I can promise I'll try. After training tomorrow, I'd like for you to join me in the lab where we'll talk about this in more depth and try to get to the bottom of it. I'll need to perform a few tests but don't worry, they won't be anything major or invasive, though I will need to take some blood for blood tests."

"Do you have to?" Mike asked in a small voice.

"I'm sorry, I know you don't like the idea but it's necessary if we want to work out what's wrong and try to fix it."

"I know," Mike sighed reluctantly.

"I won't do anything without your permission, okay?" Donnie promised gently. "And we'll talk it through before doing it. You can ask all the questions you want or need to and we'll go at a pace you're okay with."

"'k...'

Donnie took a deep breath, not liking the idea of bringing this up again after Mike's reaction last time but he had to. "I... don't know how much you remember of our conversation the other day when I accidentally upset you but what I said then stands too. I really do need to find out if your blood is compatible with ours and... make sure you're not so different to us that I can't treat you if you get injured or sick."

Mike looked aside then sighed unhappily. "I... can at least tell you my blood type now but who knows if my dimension's O type is the same as your dimension's O type."

"Yes..." Donnie breathed carefully; that thought hadn't even occurred to him. Yet. He was sure it would've by the time he started doing the tests though. "That is... a concern..."

"I know my Casey was able to donate blood to us but Donnie, that is, my Don, had to mix some additive to it made from our blood for it to be fully compatible."

Donnie sat up straight in interest. "What kind of additive?"

Mike shrugged. "I dunno. All I know is it was made from our blood after our stored blood passed its best-before date. I know how to mix it and what to use in case of an emergency but not how to make it."

"Have you ever seen this additive made?" Donnie asked curiously, his mind racing with the possibilities such a thing could open up.

"Yeah."

"Then maybe you could talk me through what you remember sometime and I can extrapolate the rest," he mused thoughtfully. "I suppose using Casey's blood is possible due to the human DNA in your mutation?"

"Yeah," Mike nodded again. "That's what Donnie said."

"With our mutations so different, I wonder if it's possible for us too," he mused aloud, the excitement rising exponentially with every second he thought about it. Unfortunately, he didn't have time for it now, what with everything else on his plate, so he worked hard to tamp down on it. "Looks like I have a lot of extra research to do down the track but not right now. For now, the priorities are finding Mikey and trying to solve your problem but we'll work on the latter tomorrow if you're up for it."

"Okay," Mike answered in a quiet, slightly relieved voice.

"Go get some sleep, Mike," Donnie ordered, also getting up to head to bed. He glanced at the clock and winced seeing it now after four am. Worth it though, he reminded himself forcefully.

Mikey, likewise, pushed himself to his feet and followed Donnie out of the kitchen and towards the bedrooms. "G'night, Don," he said, pausing at his borrowed bedroom door, "and... thanks."

-:-

With Donnie hard at work running tests he didn't need Mikey's direct presence for, Mikey left the lab, relieved to finally be out of there after nearly three hours. True to his word, Donnie had talked through what he needed to do and had waited for Mikey to be ready before proceeding. He had, unfortunately, had to use his Kraang tech scanner again to get a look at his bone structure and internal organs and like the first time, he used the scanner on himself first, even offering Mikey the chance to scan him but Mikey hadn't been able to bring himself to touch it. Thankfully, it was discovered that the vast majority of their internal structures were the same or extremely similar, though there were a couple of minor differences between them – ones that gave Donnie and his brothers the ability to retreat into their shells and left Mikey unable along with offering a little more flexibility on top of that. That didn't worry Mikey much, though, as he'd always been extremely flexible to the point of even giving most human gymnasts a run for their money. It was something that had surprised his father early on, not knowing how it was even possible for a turtle with such a restrictive torso to manage. Donnie had expressed concerns though, when his scans picked up an extremely thin hole bored through the bone of his skull on his forehead. Mikey had shrunk back at that observation, then remembering his promise the night before, told Donnie the cause. Donnie's eyes filled with more concern and after a couple of quick questions, left it alone and went on to ask questions about the foods Mikey had tried since arriving, before finally allowing Mikey to escape the lab with Donnie's laptop to play games for a while and relax.

Nearly two hours later, April arrived. Calling a greeting across the room to Raph, she joined Mikey in the pit, holding out a bag for him.

"I didn't ask for anything else," Mikey protested with a frown. "You already bought me everything I really needed last week!"

"Donnie asked me to get it for you," April replied easily. "He said something about you having trouble processing foods and asked if I could bring you some plain crackers and rice cakes and some vitamins to help make up for what you're missing in the meantime."

Mikey swallowed nervously and put the laptop aside to check the contents of the shopping bag. True to April's word, it was filled with cracker biscuits and the kind of rice cakes he'd jokingly referred to as cardboard when he was little. They were fairly tasteless, he remembered, but filling and would at least supply him with some of the energy he needed. He only hoped that he'd find them a bit more edible than real food as Donnie obviously theorised. "Thanks," he said quietly, rising to his feet to take the items into the kitchen.

When he returned, he handed the bag back to April who folded it and put it away in her school bag.

"How did things go after Casey and I left last night?" she asked quietly as he sat down again.

Mikey shrugged. "Pretty good for the most part. I creamed Raphie in pinball," he teased with a knowing glance Raphael's way.

Taking the bait, Raph stopped wailing on his punching bag and glared at Mikey. "You didn't even have a turn, doofus!"

"Well, yeah but if I did, I would've creamed you!" Mikey boasted, his grin widening in delight at the sport. He noticed Raph didn't even protest the 'Raphie' this time. Score!

"Sure you woulda!" Raph snorted, pointing aggressively at the pinball machine. "Here and now! Prove you're more than just mouth!"

The grin spread wider. "You're so on, dude!" He stood and turned to April, holding out a hand "Join us?" he asked hopefully.

April reached up and took it, laughing lightly as she glanced at the time. "Sure, though we only have ten minutes before Master Splinter expects us for training."

"Is it that time already?" Mikey blanched in a way Raph couldn't miss.

"What, you're backing out?" Raph mocked, his own knowing smirk spreading.

"N-no!" Mikey retorted. "I never back down from a challenge I can win but..." he grinned sheepishly, "we might have to postpone? I uh... gotta go have a snack before training and anyway, ten minutes isn't enough time for a proper game. I wouldn't even get through one ball in ten minutes."

Raph snorted derisively. "The way you play, you could have several games in ten minutes."

"Rude!" Mikey sniffed indignantly as he began heading for the kitchen. "That was how I played my first few games the other day when I was learning the machine. Then I got better!"

"Maybe," Raph conceded, "but not better enough."

April laughed. "How about we play a round after Mike and I finish training?"

"Sounds good. Unless of course, big mouth here wants to chicken out again," Raph retorted with a shark-like grin that set Mikey's imagination into overdrive.

"Not a chance!" Mikey returned easily as he pranced through the kitchen door to the snack that was taunting him.

-:-

Mikey and April's lesson was just winding up when Leo popped his head into the dojo.

"Shitsureishimasu, Sensei."

Splinter turned his attention to Leonardo, giving him a nod to proceed.

"We just got a call from Casey about some Kraang activity near his place so we're going to go meet him and take care of it."

"Is it dark on the surface yet? Splinter asked in concern with an upwards glance at the small grate skylight above.

"It's not fully dark yet but the sun's gone down. It should be by the time we arrive," Leo confirmed.

Splinter inclined his head again and dismissed Leonardo before turning back to his current students. "That will be all for today. You are both dismissed."

Mikey and April bowed and left the dojo, April to the showers and Mikey to the pit, eyes glazed over as Leonardo's words echoed ominously through his head. His stomach clenched anxiously at the thought of the danger his other-dimensional brothers could be in and he was at once glad he wasn't out there with them and wishing he was. In a daze, he drew his T-phone from his belt and texted Donnie.

Turtle Titan: let me know when you guys are done and safe

Then he stared at the screen, willing a reply – he didn't know how far away Casey lived but there was no way they could've reached him yet – however, he didn't know if Donnie would find the time to look at his phone beforehand.

Suddenly, the phone buzzed and Mikey jumped in fright before fumbling with the screen to read the reply

Gandalf: Will do.

A portion of the weight lifted from Mikey's shoulders as relief filled him. Then another message came through.

Gandalf: We will be fine. We deal with them all the time.

Mikey smiled tightly. He knew that but they hadn't experienced what he had and didn't know them the way he did. He had every right to be anxious.

Gandalf:The laptop is on my desk if you want to use it. I have to go now before Leo and Raph get annoyed at me for slowing them down.

Mikey breathed shakily as he selected a thumbs-up emoji and sent it before wandering into the kitchen and staring around, trying to work out what to make for dinner. He'd just decided on a cheese and mushroom quiche when April entered, towelling her hair dry.

"They'll be fine, Mike."

Mikey nodded. "I know," he replied hollowly and he did know. However, he still couldn't shake the fear and anxiety entirely.

"I'll tell you what, I'll stick around for a couple of hours to keep you company," she offered with a warm smile. "I'll have to work on some of my homework while I'm here though but maybe you can help me?"

"Me?" Mikey asked with a confused blink. "I think you have the wrong turtle dudette."

"Not really," April replied, shaking her head. "You're creative and can help me brainstorm for a project. In the meantime, the shower's free," she pointed out sternly.

Mikey chuckled. "Hint taken, Ape. Do I really smell that bad?"

"Well, I didn't want to point out the obvious," she teased.

Mikey laughed again. "Okay, okay. I'll start on dinner once I'm out so I guess you can work at the table?"

"Sounds good," April agreed, heading off to get her school bag as Mikey went for his shower.

-:-

"Mmm! Something smells amazing!" Leo breathed appreciatively as he, Raph and Donnie entered the lair proper almost five hours later and two hours after April had to go home. Being a school night, her aunt insisted on a curfew. Mikey had sent a smaller quiche with her to share with her aunt.

Mikey whipped his head around anxiously and set aside the laptop as his eyes roved over the other three turtles, searching for any injuries. True to his word, Donnie had texted after their mission ended, saying, 'The Kraang have been sent scurrying back to TCRI and we're all fine. On our way home now.'

The message prompted Mikey to return the quiche to the oven to reheat and set a pot of vegetables on to cook. Then he'd returned to the pit to wait while working on setting up a new account to a popular art site he'd found where he planned on posting some of his less personal art.

"What is it?" Raph asked with a frown as he too sniffed the air.

"Quiche," Mikey answered, getting to his feet. "Are you guys really okay?"

"The worst injury anyone has is some light bruising. I promise, we're fine," Donnie replied tiredly, veering off towards his lab to dump his bag.

"I'm going to go let Master Splinter know about the mission and clean up," Leo said over his shoulder, heading for the dojo.

Mikey nodded distantly, still unable to quell that feeling of disquiet that had settled within the moment Leonardo mentioned going after the Kraang earlier that evening. "Okay. Well, dinner's ready so don't be too long. I'll start dishing it up so can you tell Sensei?"

"Of course," Leo replied with a wan smile before disappearing from sight.

As for Raph, he stood there, frowning. "Quiche?" he asked in confusion. "Isn't that some kind of hipster food or something?"

Mikey snorted. "Hardly, dude. I made a couple of large ones, not dainty little party snacks." Then he added with a teasing smile, "Go clean up before you have to fight over the bathroom, Raphie."

-:-

After dinner, everyone went their separate ways and after collecting the laptop from where he'd left it in the pit, Mikey followed Donnie to the lab, stopping short in the doorway as he'd already spent far more time in there that day than he was comfortable with.

"Everything went okay with the... with them, right?" Mikey asked anxiously. He could see they were okay. They looked and sounded okay but...

"It was one of the easier missions involving them, actually," Donnie admitted. He canted his head as he studied Mike. "You were really worried about us, weren't you?"

Mikey fidgeted nervously. "I know you guys can take care of yourselves, Donnie, but... I know what those monsters are like."

Donnie nodded sympathetically. "Alright, how about this then? Just like you promised never to hide anything from us again, I promise I won't keep things from you, even if it's about the Kraang, okay?"

"Okay," Mikey replied gratefully. A large part of him didn't want to hear about them but an even larger part needed to. "What were they up to anyway?"

"It turns out there was a secret research facility a few streets away from Casey's and they broke into it to steal the research," Donnie explained easily. There was a hard edge to his tone though, one Mikey wasn't sure he'd have noticed only a few days before he'd began spending time with the other turtle on a regular basis. "The research was nothing good and definitely not ethical but we sent the Kraang packing and then destroyed the research and equipment."

"What... kind of research?"

"DNA research. Gene-splicing. I'd hazard a guess that the Kraang planned to see if they could make use of it in conjunction with their mutagen. They're still trying to perfect it and since they haven't been able to get their tentacles on April, I believe they are open to... other methods."

The earlier unease squeezed at Mikey's stomach again. "Do you think they'd try for April again?"

"If the opportunity came up, definitely," Donnie replied, his voice hardening. "However, thanks to her training, she can protect herself now. Plus she has us and Casey looking out for her if she needs it."

Mikey nodded distantly. "Okay. So why do they want her so badly anyway? What's so special about April?"

"That's... a rather loaded question with a rather loaded answer," Donnie replied with a wince.

"How so?"

Donnie gazed at Mike, trying to decide how much to tell him since it was about April. Then, remembering that it could be a long time before Mike could get home and that he'd be likely joining them for missions in a few weeks, realised he needed to know the truth.

"The Kraang have been experimenting on humans in this world for millennia. Trying to breed a human with specific DNA strains that could serve as a catalyst to perfect the mutagen. April's ancestors were their guinea pigs and April herself is the culmination of their work. As a result, they want her."

Mikey felt sick. Really, really sick. "That's awful," he whispered. "Poor April."

Donnie nodded and then hesitated before adding, "Basically, she's a mutant hybrid. Part human, part Kraang..."

-:-

A/N: Shitsureishimasu: excuse me

Comments, thoughts and concrit are always welcome.

* 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.