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.

Review replies are after the chapter as they are longer this time :-)

AOtGO – Aftermath

Ch 26

Date: 7th Oct

"You are dismissed," Splinter commanded formally the moment Leonardo bowed them out. Donnie rose to his feet and turned toward the exit only to hesitate. As he turned back, he saw he wasn't the only one.

"Actually," Raphael spoke up, fidgeting ever-so-slightly in that way that Donnie knew meant Raph was unsure, "we need to talk. All of us. About Mike."

"What has he done now?" Leo asked, sounding as if he was trying very hard not to speak through clenched teeth. Donnie bristled in frustration at his brother. Leo really could be more stubborn than even Raph when he believed he was right and while in many ways it was what made him such a good leader, sometimes it led to him not listening to those around him and that in turn led to interpersonal clashes. Particularly between him and Raph.

Raphael turned piercing green eyes on Leo, glaring furiously at him. "You know what? Nothing! But I'm sure you could come up with something to go off at him about if you tried hard enough!" he scoffed scathingly. "You sure did yesterday when you were the one who fucked up so badly in the first damn place!"

"Raphael! You know I do not tolerate that kind of language in our home!" Splinter immediately scolded. "You will do twenty flips before leaving the dojo!"

Raph somehow managed to both scowl and look contrite at the same time. "Sorry, Master Splinter," he muttered apologetically. Then he glared back in Leo's direction, his voice growing loud and accusing again. "But it's true."

"And is that why you wish to talk, my son?" Splinter asked, gazing at him curiously.

"No! It's..." Raph stopped and took a deep breath to gather his thoughts and calm down again. As he did, Donnie and Leo walked back in towards him and their father. "Mike... He can't keep staying in Mikey's room like this. He needs his own space. A room of his own." As he spoke, he jutted his jaw out obstinately even as his eyes took on a determined sheen in preparation to fight.

Splinter merely continued gazing at him, a furred eyebrow canting questioningly. "Oh?" he asked simply.

"Look!" Raph bit out belligerently. "Mikey's coming home soon and when he does, it wouldn't be fair for him to find someone else in his bed, in his room and in his private space!"

"Mikey never minds anyone coming into his room though," Leo frowned. "He'd understand and he's not like you who gets all... uh... pissy when someone else enters. He wouldn't mind once he found out why."

Raph's scowl deepened as he turned it on Leonardo. "He's just too nice to say it and besides, he only closes his door to sleep or when he doesn't want to be disturbed. Which is rare."

Donnie nodded at that. It was very rare when Mikey wanted to shut the world out but it did happen. Particularly on days when they were more thoughtless than usual towards him and it was how he often knew when they'd gone too far. Like that day when he, Leo and Raph had argued in front of him about who would be 'stuck' with him. The shame over that incident rose anew, threatening to spill out.

He'd never even apologised...

Mikey had come out to breakfast the next day acting as if nothing ever happened and since their father had panicked over the sudden appearance of the Shredder and then trained them beyond exhaustion for days on end after, it had been 'forgotten' about and never brought up again. Donnie had wanted to say something so many times since but he'd been too scared of reminding and hurting his little brother all over again so he'd held his tongue and his guilt.

Raph took another steadying breath. He focused back on their father, deliberately ignoring Leonardo. "I know we've been talking about taking Mike out with us in case a chance to get him home comes up but we all know he isn't ready yet and what happened two nights ago only makes things worse but our priority is still finding Mikey first which means Mike's going to be stuck here for ages."

Donnie nodded again, this time sadly. They all knew that unless they were miraculously lucky, it would more likely be months or years before they found a way to get him home. Some things, especially science, just couldn't be rushed. No matter how often Leo and Raph tried to push him to do so.

"It's not fair to Mikey if he finds Mike in his room, replacing him and it's not fair on Mike to not have his own space. Especially if he does end up stuck here for months or longer."

Or forever. Donnie swallowed. Mike had been told several times now to make himself at home but how could he when he was sleeping in someone else's room? In a space he felt like he had no control over and that didn't fit him.

"He needs his own room, Master Splinter."

Thrusting aside his last remains of hesitancy, Donnie stepped forward. "Actually, I also wanted to talk about this," he said quietly. "There are several other reasons to give him his own room too. While it's true that Mike doesn't like being stuck in one room for too long, I believe it's more than just that he feels trapped. He's obviously uncomfortable in Mikey's room and I don't think making him sleep there is good for his mental or emotional health. He always goes in there so reluctantly at night."

Leo frowned. "Are you sure you aren't exaggerating a bit?" he asked carefully. Donnie and Raph turned thunderous expressions on him respectively. "I'm not saying he shouldn't have a room of his own but Mikey's room can't be that bad. Especially since Mike cleaned it out. I mean, he runs there to get away from us every time he gets upset. If he wasn't comfortable there, he wouldn't run there."

"It's the only place he has to go!" Donnie exploded in disbelief. "And for the record, it's not the only place he runs to."

Leonardo frowned again as Splinter hummed in agreement.

"I have found him up the tree a few times."

"Whenever there's a clear path there," Donnie confirmed with a nod. "If there's anyone in the dojo or too many people watching him, he locks himself in Mikey's room which is the only personal space he has and yet, it's not his and he's fully aware of that."

Splinter closed his eyes in pain as he thought about his brief talk with Michelangelo the night before. "I agree, Donatello. While he occupies Michelangelo's bedroom, he does not and can not feel as if this is his home too. A point he made very clear to me when I went to check on him last night."

"I know it will be a pain and take up a lot of time but I think we should clear out the junk room and give it to Mike. We can get him a bed and whatever other furniture he wants and he can decorate how he likes," Donnie suggested carefully.

Leo and Raph both winced at the thought of clearing that up.

"That's a great idea and all but what do we do with everything?" Raph asked warily.

"Dispose of what we don't need or want and move the rest," Donnie offered with a shrug. "We can comfortably move the sewing desk, cupboard and supplies to the main room if we move the arcade machines over a little. Our Christmas decorations and some other things can move to a corner of the garage; I'll make room for them. There are some items I really should bring into my lab and as for everything else, well, I suggest we take a good long and hard look at what we need to keep and what we don't and I think I speak for all of us when I say the first thing out the door should be that Bradford cutout," he added dryly.

"That's in there?" Leo choked out in a disgusted voice.

Donnie nodded reluctantly. "Unfortunately. I really don't know why Mikey didn't just get rid of it but I think we should take the opportunity and do so now."

A strange look came over Raph's face. "While I agree and want nothing more, other than Mikey back, we can't."

"Why not?" Leonardo countered in disbelief. "I'd have thought you'd be the first one to toss it or burn it."

"Because it's not ours," Raph scowled, obviously hating the very words coming out of his mouth.

"And since when do you care?" Leo laughed. Donnie agreed wholeheartedly with the question. Raphael had never shown any such consideration before.

Raph scowled in embarrassment and his gaze slid away, refusing to meet any of theirs. "Because Mikey kept it for a reason and we can't make the choice for him," he snapped, parroting back Mike's words from a little over a week ago.

"Again, since when do you care?"

Raph's temper flared. "Do you wanna be the one to explain what happened to it when we find Mikey?"

Donnie swallowed uncomfortably at the thought. Once upon a time, Mikey had cherished that cutout but after Bradford had revealed his true colours and allegiance and they'd suggested getting rid of it, Mikey had refused. He never said why, despite them asking and trying to talk him around, just stubbornly refused to destroy it.

"When did it end up in the junk room anyway?"

"Uh... I put it there that night I stayed home with Mike. It was creeping him out," Raph admitted carefully.

"The eyes?" Donnie asked curiously.

Raph shrugged. "Pretty sure it was more than that but yeah."

Donnie nodded thoughtfully. "Well, if we're all agreed, I'll go clear a corner of the garage for us to move things to. Do you two want to start by moving the arcade machines across?"

"Sure," Leo and Raph agreed.

"Make sure to leave enough space between them so we can still crowd around and watch for tournaments. I suggest using Mike's carapace as a guide. If he can't stand in between them comfortably, they're too close. Also, this shouldn't need to be said but do not move anything electrical by the pool."

Raph rolled his eyes.

"Then I suggest you all get started. Raphael, you may defer your punishment until after practice tomorrow. I shall go make lunch," Splinter offered. "After lunch, if the three of you have finished your preliminary tasks, you can start sorting through the items in the room."

-:-

Mikey looked up from his journal as movement from the passageway caught his attention and he quickly snapped it closed, locking it, before putting it aside. Donnie flashed a small smile his way and Mikey smiled wanly back.

"I'm heading to the garage to work for a while but before I do, is there anything you need?" Donnie offered.

"Naw, I'm good," Mikey assured quietly. Honestly, he could really do with moving about for a bit but he knew the response to that particular request already.

"Alright. Leo and Raph will be around but don't hesitate to call me if you need to," Donnie said, motioning to the T-phone beside Mikey. "I'll give you a check over later today."

Mikey nodded, watching as Donnie lightly leapt over the turnstiles and acutely aware of the other turtles remaining in the room with him.

"Hey, Mike, you know how wide you are from plastron to shell?" Raph asked shortly a moment later.

Mikey twitched, trying to hide his slight amusement. "You calling me fat, dude?"

"What if I was?" Raph countered back with a hint of a smirk. "What could you do about it right now?"

Mikey froze, caught out. Donnie would skin him alive if he actually tried anything that involved leaving the beanbag and he had good reason to fear the brainiac turtle if he did. After all, his Donnie, as mild-mannered and gentle as he usually was, was terrifying if his medical orders were defied so how would that bode for this Donatello who was easily irritated and quick to snap when pushed?

"Actually, if anything, you're too skinny right now and your muscle mass is still lacking," Leo observed quietly. Mikey turned his gaze warily on him. "Have you done any of your rehabilitation exercises yet today?"

Seriously? Mikey stared at Leonardo in disbelief. "Don would murder me if I got up. That or tie me to the bed in the infirmary and I'm not really sure which option is worse," he pointed out crossly.

"So that's a no, then."

Mikey drew in a slow, deep breath from between his teeth to settle his irritation. "Right. No," he confirmed.

Leo spun around on the spot and headed back to the dojo. A short time later, he returned with the smallest weight they had in one hand and a stress ball in the other. "I know you shouldn't do much right now but you can do a little. Use the weight in your left arm only but not so much that it puts pressure on your right shoulder," he commanded, "and just squeeze the ball in your right as long as it's not too painful. It shouldn't pull on your stitches if you take it carefully. Master Splinter's making lunch so I won't get you a snack until later unless you actually want something now."

"Okay," Mikey said slowly. At least it didn't sound too bad and it meant he wouldn't go backwards much further than he already had. Still, he wondered if Donnie knew and approved.

Leo flashed him a small, tight smile, then turned to Raph. "I'll go ask Donnie if he knows the measurements. I'll be right back."

Raph rolled his eyes again. "Figures. Any excuse to leave me with the heavy lifting," he complained loudly as he watched Leo leave. The moment the blue-banded turtle disappeared from view, however, he sauntered over to Mike. "Actually, something else you could do is just practice your grips. Well, with your left hand anyway. It might pull too much on your right shoulder if you did it with the right."

Mikey's eyes widened. That was true and he was still getting used to the weight and feel of the new nunchakus. They were so different from his own. "That's actually a good idea, dude. Who knew you were capable of coming up with any," he teased. Raph glowered slightly and he laughed. "Any chance you could grab one of my 'chucks from my room?" he asked hopefully.

Keeping the glower on his face, which Mikey could tell was totally put on, Raph whirled and went to fetch one, arriving back just as Leonardo returned. Then, after passing it to the beanbag-bound turtle, they set to work moving the arcade machines across the room while Mikey watched on.

"So~ what are you doing anyway?" he asked as much out of curiosity as boredom.

"Rearranging the room," Raph grunted as he and Leo shuffled across the floor, heaving the game machine in hand between them.

"Yeah, I can see that, dude but why?"

For a moment, there was no answer. Then Leo and Raph carefully put down the 'Space Heroes' pinball and carefully wriggled it into place.

"It was your idea, Raph. Do you want to tell him?"

"Ooh, credit from the mighty Leonardo?" Raph shot back sarcastically.

"Credit where credit's due," Leo answered with a magnanimous smile.

"In that case, maybe you should be crediting Donnie too. I might've brought it up first but he'd been thinking about it too."

Mikey twitched impatiently. Were they really arguing about whose idea rearranging the room was just to keep him in the dark about whatever the shell was going on?

"I'm surprised you're willing to share credit," Leo returned slyly. "Though to be fair, I think Master Splinter was thinking about it too."

"What was whose idea?" Mikey asked loudly to be heard over the arguing brothers.

However, they ignored him, instead working together to lift the next arcade game and move it over closer to the pinball.

"So what you're really saying, Lame-o-nardo, is that everyone was thinking about it but you?" Raphael snerked, his smile wide and almost predatory. "And yet you always call me the inconsiderate one?"

"Well, that's because you are," Leo retorted, an edge creeping into his voice. "You constantly push everyone else's boundaries and bully them, not caring how anyone else feels but you."

"That's rich, coming from you!" Raph sneered derisively. As he spoke, his intense green gaze bore into Leonardo's. Mikey's eyes narrowed and wincing, he shifted, preparing to leap to his feet and get in between them if he had to as the previously gentle joshing took a sudden left turn. "Could you be any more hypocritical right now?"

Suddenly, before Mikey could actually get up, Splinter appeared in the kitchen doorway, hard eyes fixed on his two argumentative sons.

"Lunch is ready. Raphael, please inform Donatello and Leonardo, you will come dish it up. Now!"

"Hai, Sensei!" Leo immediately responded, shooting to attention as Raph answered the same, only more sullenly.

As the pair split off to do as they were told, Splinter came over to Michelangelo. He gazed approvingly at the small weight beside Mikey's hand.

"It is not causing you any shoulder pain, is it?"

Mikey shook his head slightly. "Nothing too bad, Sensei," he answered quietly.

"That is good. However, be wary of overdoing it, my grandson."

Mikey smiled warmly up at the ninjutsu master. Splinter had been calling him that more and more, particularly since their Mutation Day. "So what's going on, Grandpa-sensei? Leo and Raph wouldn't tell me."

Splinter stroked his long beard thoughtfully for a moment as he regarded the other-dimensional turtle. "Hmm, if they did not tell you, then they must have a reason for it and it is therefore not for me to say," he replied carefully, a faint twinkle of amusement in his eye.

"Ugh! Not you too!" Mikey groaned theatrically. "Come on, Sensei! I'm stuck here with no entertainment. The least you could do is feed my curiosity!"

"I could," Splinter acknowledged with an amused chuckle, "but then you would know and you would just be bored again."

Mikey groaned louder. "So basically, you're amusing yourself instead," he accused semi-petulantly.

Splinter chuckled again and turned as Donatello and Raphael jumped the turnstiles. "Ah good. Were you nearly done, Donatello?"

Donnie nodded. "Yes. Raph helped me move the last couple of things so we're good to go after lunch." He glanced over at the gaming machines approvingly as Mikey breathed out through his teeth, drawing Donnie's attention.

"Are you okay, Mike?"

"Other than the fact no one will tell me what's going on? I'm just peachee," Mikey whined childishly. "Can I at least get up for lunch?"

Donnie regarded him for a moment, then nodded. "As long as you take it easy. I don't want you ripping those stitches."

Mikey pulled a face and reached up a hand as Donnie came close to help him up. Just then, Leo poked his head from the kitchen.

"Where are we eating? Out there?"

"No, we will eat at the table."

Leo nodded and disappeared from view again. Then, after helping Mikey to his feet, everyone headed for the kitchen.

-:-

Pleased that Michelangelo had been expanding his sons' palettes of late, Splinter had made onigiri for lunch. Having been informed of Michelangelo's eating problems by Donatello, he'd set aside a few plain ones especially for him, while making a few varieties for the rest of them. Despite that, Mikey picked at his lunch while the others tried theirs warily. Once it proved not to be poisoned, Leonardo ate his with gusto, happy to eat anything his father made and Donatello and Raphael ate more sedately. Mikey could tell Raph found his a bit bland but he obviously didn't dare complain. Mikey did suggest, however, for him to try adding some of the leftover wasabi from the last time they'd had Murakami's and he jumped eagerly at the idea.

As Leo and Raph began to clean up after lunch, Donnie turned to him. "We're going to be pretty busy this afternoon so do you mind coming to the lab now so I can check your injuries?"

Grimacing, Mikey never-the-less nodded reluctantly. On the bright side, at least he didn't have to go straight back to the beanbag or worse, bed. Carefully getting to his feet, he followed Donnie to the Den of Mental Torture where he put up with the other turtle's poking, prodding and questions for the next twenty minutes.

Finally, they were done. Donnie was pleased with the way he was healing, even though it was more slowly than he and his brothers, and instructed him to continue taking it easy for the rest of the day and for tomorrow. Then, he'd be allowed to roam again; as long as he didn't do anything stupid or strenuous in the meantime.

As Mikey was about to head back to the beanbag, Donnie hesitated and then spoke up.

"Actually, if you're up for it, I have a project for you to work on over the next day or so."

Mikey turned back and looked at him suspiciously. "What kind of 'project'?"

"A design project," Donnie smiled. Mikey gazed at him, waiting. "Given that you could be here for some time, we thought you should have a room of your own that you can decorate how you like. That's what I want you to design. The layout of your room and what furniture etcetera you want."

Mikey froze, staring in shock.

"We... uh... have a limited budget, as you know, but... we can at least buy a tin of paint or two and a new but cheap mattress, though getting it down here might require some thought. As for anything else, bed frame and other furniture, we'll have to make those with what we can scavenge from the junkyard.

"We want you to be comfortable here and to feel at home, Mike, because, well..." Donnie took a deep breath; there was no easy way to say it other than just saying it, "as you know, unless we can find a way to get you back to where you really belong, this is your home but without your own space, it will never feel like it."

Mikey started to tremble with overwhelming emotion. After the way he'd acted yesterday... he couldn't believe they'd actually... that they cared enough to want him to feel at home here and he... he sniffled loudly as a look of alarm replaced the hopeful one on Donnie's face.

"Mike? Are you..." he swallowed nervously. "Don't you want a room of your own? "

Mikey laughed even as he sniffled again. "I can think of so many reasons why it's a bad idea, particularly that it feels like g-giving up and admitting that I'm really stuck here but shell yeah! I want my own room so badly! I mean, no offence to your bro but his posters are creepy as shell! I mean, I love cheesy horror movies and all but horror in the place I sleep? Not cool, man! And... and... I know he's not here and probably wouldn't mind given the circumstances but it... it feels like I'm intruding, you know?"

Donnie nodded solemnly.

"Be-besides... I... I know it hurts you guys to come in there and be reminded your bro is missing."

"It does," Donnie confirmed softly. "Especially Raph."

Mikey nodded frantically. And despite that, Raph had still come in to check on him several times in the last couple of weeks, making sure he was okay and just being there to talk to or for silent company.

"But... what... what if we set this room up for me and then I get to go home a few days later?"

"Unlikely," Donnie cut in sadly.

"But what if? Then... then you'd have made all that effort for nothing."

"It wouldn't be for nothing. Helping you feel at home is worth it, even if it's only for a short time. Besides, after you do leave, we can use it as a guest room or for Casey when he stays over in case he gets sick of slumming it on Raph's floor. We've had Mr. O'Neil stay before too and had nowhere to put him up. I ended up giving him my room and sleeping in the pit or at my desk. That was uh... before we found the bed we now use for the infirmary," Donnie explained with a fierce blush that made Mikey want to laugh. "Either way, setting up a new room for you is worth it. Both for now and for the future after we finally manage to get you home," he promised. "We're clearing out the junk room for you. The sewing table and cupboard will be moved into the living area and as for the rest, we're going to go through it all and throw out what we no longer need or want and store the rest in the garage or our own rooms."

"Ooh! You're moving the sewing stuff into the living room? That's a really good idea, bro!" Mikey gushed in excitement. It would really make it easier for the next time he needed to make something. Like when he finally had what he needed to make new padding. "Still, that's a lot of other stuff to go through, though," he said more seriously. He could tell they'd never been forced to move homes before. At least, not for a very long time. They were lucky.

"Which is why we've started organising things around today," Donnie agreed.

"So... do you think I could have a loft bed with space underneath for a desk?" Mikey ventured hopefully. "Ooh! And a corner I can set up for painting? With an easel?"

"As long as we can source the parts to make it, you can have whatever you like," Donnie promised. "Within reason, of course."

"Aw, shell! There's goes my plan for a stripper pole in the middle of the room," Mikey immediately teased with a fake pout. Then he paused as the idea grew on him. "Actually, that sounds like an awesome idea but it wouldn't work in that room, there's not enough space. May~be somewhere else in the lair though?" he asked to Donnie's growing horror. Then he laughed. "Relax, Donnie-boy! I don't mean for stripping because we've got nothing to strip but they make for sweet moves for bored turtles. Like a Jungle Gym but smaller."

Donnie swallowed uneasily.

"Shell! I already thought of a great place for one. Near the pool where I slept last night! There's plenty of room for one around there!" Mikey grinned.

"Uh... we'll see but either way, let's concentrate on setting up your room first," Donnie winced. "Draw up a rough design and I'll see what I can do."

Mikey beamed happily. He could already think of so much he wanted to do and if it took time and he healed enough for Donnie's liking... "Can I help you build it? You know, when I'm healed enough? I know how to weld and hammer stuff together!"

Donnie paused again, the horror of the offer immediately filling him with dread. Then he looked at the eagerness and sincerity on the other turtle's face and he melted. This was a different Michelangelo from his own missing brother. One who had already proven himself just as capable as all three of his brothers in many things and in some things, more so. He wasn't sure about him helping to actually build the furniture but he could always test him out first before committing and keep him away from the more dangerous stuff.

"You know what? It's your room so sure."

-:-

Over the next few hours, Mikey enthusiastically sketched bedroom ideas as the three native turtles worked on reorganising the lair. When April and Casey arrived, April disappeared into the dojo for her lesson with Splinter and Casey was roped into helping by Raph. Then, once April finished training and had her shower, Raph and Casey left to pick up dinner and April approached Mikey, concern filling her features as she sat on the blanket on the floor beside him.

"How are you doing, Mike?"

He looked up at her with bright eyes. "Other than being stuck in bed or on the beanbag, great!"

"You're not in any pain?"

Mikey paused a moment, thinking about it. Then shook his head. "Nuh, not really. Donnie gave me something to dull it earlier and I've had worse before so I'm okay." There was still a dull ache throughout his body and a sharper one if he moved too fast or wrong but he'd been too distracted to really notice until April asked.

"That's good," April smiled in relief. She motioned towards his sketchbook. "What are you drawing? Can I take a look?"

"Sure!" Mikey agreed, eagerly handing over the book.

April carefully took it and gazed curiously at the page. "Was that your bedroom back home? It looks good."

"Nuh, but it's going to be my new bedroom here," Mikey grinned. "Well, maybe. I'm still playing with ideas."

April shot him a questioning look so Mikey pointed out the changes to the room around the pit. The game machines, the sewing desk and cupboard and a small set of drawers. Casey knew what was going on, of course, but April had already started training with Splinter when Raph, Leo and Donnie explained what Casey was helping with.

"The guys are emptying out the junk room so I can have my own bedroom."

April relaxed, obviously happy to hear the news. "That's good. I don't think you using Mikey's room for too long was that good for any of you."

He completely agreed. Using that room had been fine short term but long term was a totally different story. "I have a couple of other designs on previous pages. I'll probably combine them somehow for the final plan."

April started flipping through the filled pages of the sketchbook, admiring the simple designs. "With some training, you'd probably make a great interior designer. You've got a good eye for it," she observed after a couple of pages.

Luckily, she'd never seen his old room with all his stuff in it. If so, she'd never have said such a thing. "Yeah, I can totally see it now, dudette, humans coming from all over the world to see rooms designed from random bits of cobbled-together junk by a mutant turtle," he laughed. "It'd be a total hit!"

"Don't laugh, Mike, but recycled furniture and clothing are in fashion. There's a lot of people who would be into it as long as it looks good."

"Seriously?" Mikey asked, eyes boggling at her in surprise.

"For sure," April promised. "My aunt runs an antique and second-hand goods store and she has a lot of people coming in looking for things they can use or upscale."

"Ooh, cool," Mikey cooed reverently. Then a thought struck him and he leaned forward eagerly, trying to keep the wince off his face from the sudden movement. "It wouldn't be 'Second Time Around', would it?"

April stopped flipping through the pages to gaze at him in surprise. "My aunt's store exists in your world?"

"Only it doesn't belong to her but you, yeah. My April inherited it and after she uh... quit her old job, decided to open and run it."

"Must have been an awful job if she needed to quit for that," April winced. "I can't speak for your April but running a store sure isn't my dream job."

"It was the worst job ever," Mikey agreed in dry amusement. "She was the assistant to a prestigious scientist who decided to murder her using hundreds of little robots the moment she discovered he was a bad dude. That's how we met, actually. She fled into the sewers to escape and we found her, saved her and took her home to look after her when she collapsed. Then we teamed up to shut him down." As he spoke, he saw a chill settle over his friend and he felt bad for laughing. It really wasn't funny, it was just how he coped with crap like that. By laughing and making bad jokes. "Anyway, running a store wasn't what she really wanted either but it gave her the freedom she needed and she still gets to do science stuff. She started collaborating with Donnie on some of his projects and has helped us to save the city and the world a heap of times. If she had to stick to someone else's work schedule, it woulda been a lot harder."

April nodded, her expression clearing, and she continued flipping through the sketchbook once more.

"Hey, Ape..." Mikey began hesitantly a few moments later. "Does your aunt know about us? I mean, the others?"

"No," April replied softly, shaking her head. "I think she'd be okay with the idea of mutants and me being friends with them once she had time to get used to the idea but... I can't be sure and I won't risk everyone's safety by telling her. She believes the friends I spend so much time with are old friends that my father knew and approved of so she never objected to me spending so much time here and... after Donnie saved my dad from the Kraang, dad lied and pretty much told her that was true. Why?"

Mikey fidgeted a moment, then took a deep breath. "Well, back home, we'd find things in the junkyard and clean them up or fix them for April to sell in her store. It was how we got money for groceries. Well, mostly, anyway, and I was hoping that maybe we could do that here too, since, well, I don't know how they get their money but their grocery budget is really low. It's not really enough to feed five or more people each week. At least, not well and with good variety. I can make do and all but it woulda been nice to be able to help more." He fell silent a moment, fully aware of April scrutinising him. "It's okay though. If she doesn't know about us then it's not a good idea to ask."

April nodded slowly, a disheartened look on her face "When she needs to document everything she buys and who from, yeah, it's not but it's a good idea otherwise. I wish I could help you with it but even if we could, Donnie has far too much on his plate to do the amount of work needed to fix things up for reselling and the guys wouldn't agree to waste time looking through the junkyard for items that might be worth it. Not with Mikey still missing anyway."

"I know but it's something I could've done. At least once I've recovered enough and I'm allowed topside again." Mikey sighed. Leo had made it abundantly clear that Mikey wouldn't be joining them again so at least this was something he could have done. If there had been a way to sell things afterwards, anyway. "And as long as it's not complex stuff or electronics, I can fix and clean things up too." He'd just have to push through the boredom and try not to get too distracted but it would be totally worth it to help out somehow.

"Really?"

Mikey nodded numbly.

"Well, in that case, maybe I can help you another way."

"How?"

"Have you ever heard of E-Buy?" April asked, a page poised to turn between her fingertips. "It's an online auction site. If you can sell through that, then I can help by doing the actual mailing for you after school."

"You'd do that?" Mikey asked, sitting up suddenly in his excitement and hissing as sharp pain shot through him.

"Are you okay? Do I need to go get Donnie?" April asked anxiously, ready to drop the sketchbook and pounce to her feet to get help.

Mikey waved her off frantically with his left hand. "I'm fine, promise. I just moved too fast, that's all."

April eyed him suspiciously for a moment, then nodded in relief and settled back down. "Okay but let me know if you need him, okay? I don't mind getting him. Anyway, to answer your question, yes, I would."

"Awesome!" Mikey cheered. "I mean, it'll be a bit before I can but this'll be great and I'd totally cut you in on the profit too! Thanks, Ape!"

She smiled and turned the page, her breath catching at the sight of the picture in front of her. Mikey leant over carefully to see what April was looking at and smiled sadly.

"Klunkers."

April looked up at him questioningly.

"His name is Klunk."

"Is he your cat?" April asked softly, her finger lightly touching the page. The image looked so realistic and full of life that she had to resist stroking it, knowing she'd be disappointed by touching paper rather than soft, warm fur.

"I found him abandoned a few years ago so I took him home," Mikey explained softly, remembering the way the small ginger cat had meowed plaintively and come to him, desperate for warmth, food and love. Klunk had never feared him and had put up with a lot on that first day, what with the thugs trying to kill them both for a bunch of stolen toys. And it was the way Klunk had cuddled into his jacket, trusting him, that had melted his heart and convinced him to fight tooth and nail to keep Klunk despite knowing Splinter was a rat and might be uncomfortable with a cat around and that Leo wasn't a cat person.

"You must miss him a lot," April observed quietly.

Mikey nodded, a lump in his throat. He missed his little ninja kitty more than she could ever realise. Klunk may have been just a cat but he meant just as much to Mikey as his brothers and father did and he'd have risked anything to save him.

April turned the next couple of pages, coming back to the room designs and handed the book back. "You have a real talent for art. It's a shame I can't introduce you to my aunt, she'd love to see these and talk art with you." Suddenly, the young kunoichi looked up at him. "Hey, have you ever thought about selling some of your art or taking commissions?"

"Heh, funny you should mention that," Mikey chuckled, "but yeah, I have and I used to. I never made a lot but it was enough to buy some games and comics every so often and I've already made an account on an art site here."

"You have?"

Mikey nodded and carefully reached for Donnie's laptop, turning it on and bringing up a web page. "I've only put a few pieces up so far but hopefully I can build up a following and then maybe take some commissions," he said, showing April his profile.

April took the computer and started browsing through the page. There were only three pieces so far. One of Klunk rolling about and playing with a toy on a string, the picture she had so admired and two others, both of characters from popular fandoms and all three pictures had a lot of views and favourites already. She copied the link to his profile and messaged it to herself.

"Looks like I get to show my aunt some of your art after all."

-:-

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.

A/N:

ScribeofHeroes: Oh definitely. Much as Mikey does like to sit in front of a game console, he does have this need to get out and move about or drive himself and everyone else nuts. Yeah, he's a little more mature partially because he's older (though I saw approx 1 year of series as 1 year of aging) but mostly due to the crap he went through with the Kraang. Hmm.. I don't think Donnie's really that bad at lying, he IS a ninja. It's more the circumstances and the tone of voice he used when he swore. Most people would've seen through that lie, haha. Haha! No, Leo definitely was not a saint during that season but it was extenuating circumstances and all. Mikey just means in general, not in that one particularly bad period XD Yeah, I kinda wondered the same about 2k12 Mikey's mutation. Thanks for the comments! :-)

Mikemasters Z KAI: ch23: Time heals all wounds, so they say and maybe it doesn't completely heal them but it does help. Along with support. Mikey may not talk about what he needs to much but he has talked a little and as he gets to know his other-dimensional family, it makes it easier for him to let them in and vice versa. Raph and Donnie are just going to have to get used to it XD Haha, well, in Donnie's defence, the convertible weapons Mikey uses are normal to him so it just didn't occur to him to maybe let Mike know XD

ch24: Yeah, it was definitely good for them all to take Mikey for a bit, even if things ended up going badly :-s It was so much fun trying to come up with comments for Mike to make at Dogpound's expense, haha. Hard, but fun!

Ch25: Honestly, I did consider going into the hallucinations a bit but it really wasn't super necessary, especially since I could just give a couple of hints as Mikey thought back on it. It would've felt I was just dragging things out if I did and this story is pretty long already. That said, I do not want to skimp on stuff but just some things... just don't feel needed. Yeah, Leo really should've thought about things a bit more rather than just let his knee jerk reaction take over. Much as Leo is great, the 2k12 version can be a little bossy and thoughtless at times... yeah, after Mike's 'talk' with Leo, he was feeling pretty down and upset, not to mention in pain so he just wasn't in the mood to be talkative when Splinter came along. At least by the time Raph came along, he'd had a little more time and the tea Splinter gave him probably helped a lot with the pain, making him more receptive.

Thanks for your comments!

KaylaMicael: Yeah, 2k12 Leo can be pretty stubborn when he feels he's in the right and he doesn't listen as easily as 2k3 Leo would. It's not a good thing but he's young and he's still learning. 2k3 Mikey's not really one to rock the boat like Raph is but he will at least stand up for himself when needed, unlike 2k12 Mikey. He's probably unlikely to say anything more for a while unless he gets pushed too far and if so, then for sure, he'll speak up. I actually quite liked 2k12 Splinter in general but he's no 2k3 Splinter, that's for sure. But yeah, he certainly did seem to favour Leo and to a lesser extent Raph over the others and that wasn't a great thing... I believe that particularly added to the imbalance of their team. In many ways though, it's kinda understandable given he came from not only a traditional, strict family but a ninja clan at that and between that and the hard lessons he learnt with Tang Shen's loss and the apparent loss of his daughter, it's no wonder he may not have been as warm as we all wished.
Thank you for your kind words :-)

tima-fatima: Okay! Here's more! And thank you :-)