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: 2k12 side of 'AOtGO'. For months, Mikey was at the tender 'mercy' of the Kraang. His family thinks he's dead, he's been rescued by the wrong family and now must learn to fit in in a dimension not his own. All while searching for a way home for both himself and the missing member of his adopted family. 2k3/2k12 crossover.

Vexeria17: He sure does.
CharmGirlLove: I assume you mean Woody? Yeah, he's a canon character but from the IDW comics. He and Mikey have an awesome friendship in them, though things did turn sour for a while after Woody was hurt by someone trying to hunt down the Turtles. He's a good guy though and came around not too long later.

ScribeofHeroes: Hehe, yeah, sorry, not-sorry about the cliffhanger XD Yeah, even if the rest of the home is an organised mess (or even just a mess) cleanliness in the kitchen is important and Mikey would probably realise that better than most.
As I said to CharmGirlLove, Woody is actually a canon character from the IDW comics. I'm fond of using him as a pop-up character/friend in various stories where a friend is called for and the usual ones don't quite cut it :-)

apocalypselover1: Sorry I'm not as fast as I was for a while but here's the new chapter at last.

AOtGO – Aftermath

Ch 29

Date: 13th Oct

Once Donatello had finished with him, Mikey walked reluctantly into the dojo and made his way to the beautiful shoji screen door separating the training area from Splinter's room. Gulping nervously, he fidgeted as he tried to work up the courage to knock or call out when the door suddenly slid open, revealing the tall, imposing figure of the ninjutsu master standing just beyond the threshold. Splinter stepped back and to the side, leaving space for Michelangelo to enter.

"Come in and sit," Splinter commanded, indicating a nearby cushion in front of a small, wooden table. The table was old but polished lovingly and had a simple but elegant pattern carved into it. Atop the table sat two traditional Japanese cups, sitting on small bamboo coasters with an elegant but chipped glazed teapot perched in between, steam gently wafting from it.

Mikey made his way inside, unsure, and settled cross-legged on the cushions as Splinter drew the door closed behind him. Then he too, came and settled on a cushion opposite, instead sitting in seiza as his eyes settled on Michelangelo curiously. Mikey swallowed and shifted to likewise sit in seiza but Splinter shook his head once.

"You are not in trouble, Michelangelo."

Wait, he really wasn't? Mikey blinked, remembering how Splinter had said that just before he left the kitchen earlier. However, if he wasn't in trouble, then why the formality?

"You may sit however you are most comfortable," the ninjutsu master further reassured.

Mikey nodded in relief and shifted to sit cross-legged again. "So... uh... what do you want to talk to me about, Sensei?" he asked nervously.

Splinter didn't answer at first. He reached out to gracefully take the cup before Michelangelo and then the teapot. He poured a little liquid into it, gently swirling it about and warming the cup. Then he poured the liquid out into a nearby bowl and refilled the cup before offering it to the mesmerised turtle.

"The tea does not have a strong flavour so it should hopefully not cause you much distress," Splinter spoke in what was obviously an expectation for him to drink.

Dreading the experience, especially after the medicinal teas Splinter had made him drink in the first few days after he'd been injured a little over a week ago, Mikey reluctantly obeyed, bringing the cup slowly to his mouth and watching Splinter cautiously the entire time. Then he took a careful sip and his eyes widened to stare down at the cup instead.

"What is this?"

"Silver Needles, White Jasmine," Splinter replied, already repeating his motions for his own cup. "It is full of antioxidants and has many health benefits. It is perhaps not the best tea for late at night but it seemed the most suitable considering your needs."

Mikey lifted the cup again, taking a larger mouthful. He slowly swished it around his mouth, taking his time to really taste it. It only had a faint taste but he could detect no hint of the Kraang food for the first time since he'd been taken and it was heaven. He'd been beginning to think he'd never taste anything but again and had begun to resign himself to the nauseousness he experienced every time he ate or drank for the rest of his life.

But this... this tea... was a game changer and faint though the taste may have been, it was hope.

Splinter placed the teapot down reverently before lifting his own cup two-handed and likewise taking a slow mouthful which he savoured. When he placed it down again, he opened his eyes, gazing at Michelangelo.

Mikey, too, placed down his now empty cup but he didn't let go of it, he couldn't, and he swallowed nervously, suddenly uncomfortable under the scrutiny again.

"I wish to talk to you about today's events," Splinter finally spoke up serenely.

"So I am in trouble then!" Mikey immediately exclaimed in dismay, his stomach sinking and making him feel anxious and uncomfortable. "Sensei, I'm sorry. I know I promised to stay out of it but I had no choice! I had to help Woody and I'd do it again if I had to!"

The corners of Splinter's mouth quirked up in amusement. "I see you refer to him by name, my grandson."

Mikey felt the heat quickly rise in his face as he spluttered, "Uh, well, yeah! He told me his name after I saved him and then we talked while I showed him the way out. Why wouldn't I use his name?"

"And yet you did not take his phone number as he offered?"

Mikey blinked in confusion as he considered that this might be a trap to get him to admit to what really happened. Yet, he'd already told the truth, even if he'd skimped a little on the details.

"No, I didn't." He would have liked to though.

"Why not?" Splinter asked in seeming curiosity.

"Because... I didn't think you'd like it if I did."

Splinter gazed at him silently, his head canted slightly in question.

"I figured you'd probably think I was putting you all in danger if I took it and I wouldn't do that," Mikey explained desperately. "This isn't my world and I still hope to get home eventually so... it wouldn't be fair to you all if I took the chance."

Splinter lifted his teacup and took another slow, thoughtful sip. "And yet you do not know how long you will be here for," he pointed out when he placed his cup gently down again. "You cannot simply stop living your life just because you are in the wrong world."

Mikey stared at Splinter in shock.

"This is a big part of why we are working to give you your own room."

He nodded numbly, unsure what to think.

"The way you talk about this young man and use his name implies you would enjoy the friendship offered," Splinter observed. "If you were in your own world, would you have taken his number?"

Mikey nodded emphatically. He definitely would have. "Yes but I wouldn't have given him mine until Donnie had checked him out and maybe Leo too. I have a good sense of people but it wouldn't just be my life I'm risking."

Splinter nodded approvingly. "That is good to know, Michelangelo." He looked down at the cup clutched protectively in his hands, seeing it empty. "Would you like more tea?"

"Yes, please!" Mikey blurted out far too eagerly. He wasn't sure if it was good by his past standards but with it being the best thing he'd tasted since he'd been ripped away from his home, it was now easily his favourite.

Splinter chuckled and poured some more. "I did not think you enjoyed tea."

"I don't! Well, I never did before but I like this one!"

Splinter inclined his head, pleased, watching as he eagerly drank.

"Now, please understand that I am not saying for you to go looking for friends to make. In fact, I would much rather you did not go looking since, as you said, it is all of our lives on the line, but if something like this were to happen again, take the chance, Michelangelo. Just make sure you consult the rest of us first, as you would back home."

"I'm kind of surprised you're not only okay with the idea but encouraging me," Mikey replied, staring at Splinter again in shock.

"As am I," Splinter hummed thoughtfully. "In the past, I would not have been and in many ways, I still am not okay with it, as you say. However, my sons have befriended several humans now, some of whom have become family like April, Casey and even April's father and then there are others who have become allies, like Jack Kurtzman or even simply friends such as with Murakami-san. There have been a couple of other humans friendly enough towards us, who even wished to help but unfortunately... were not suitable to do so."

"Like that frozen mutant in Donnie's lab?" Mikey asked carefully. He'd heard all about Timothy after the sheet covering him had slipped off one day while in the lab with Donnie. Donatello felt so guilty about what had happened, yet it was not his fault and when Mikey tried to point that out to him after being told the story, Donnie had simply stated that how would he know when he wasn't even there.

"Yes, like Timothy," Splinter replied ruefully. "A rather eager young man who meant well and only wanted to do good, yet lacked the skill to help and the ability, sense and wisdom to listen and see reason," he said sadly. "Unfortunately, he paid the price for his eagerness to help and it destroyed him."

Mikey nodded again, his eyes dropping to focus on the table. It was probably for the best that he hadn't taken that phone number after all.

"Anyway," Splinter coughed lightly, clearing his throat to get Michelangelo's attention once more. "This is not what I wished to speak with you about. I apologise for becoming sidetracked."

Mikey shook his head wildly. "It's fine, Grandpa-sensei! So uh... if I'm not actually in trouble, what was it you did want to talk about?"

Shaking his head lightly in amusement, Splinter chuckled again. "I see you are not used to having a serious talk with another without being in trouble of some sort," he observed.

Mikey froze a moment, caught out. "Um... maybe?" he ventured cautiously.

"Then perhaps I should be grateful that you've grown up some over the years. I do not know that I would have been able to cope with a fifth rambunctious son or grandson before now."

Splinter reached out and took Michelangelo's cup to fill it once more, draining the last from the small pot as Michelangelo stared, at once in shock and feeling warm from the admission of affection. If he couldn't be home, then he really was lucky to be here.

"Thanks, Grandpa," Mikey said softly as Splinter handed the cup back. He clutched it tightly to his plastron, savouring the cooling warmth.

Smiling gently, Splinter sat back, giving him a couple of minutes. Then, finally, "I wish to know more about the altercation you became involved with today."

"You want the details of the fight?" Mikey asked with a confused frown. He'd already mentioned the important parts. Much of the rest was a blur.

"Hmm.. more the parts you did not speak of," Splinter hummed thoughtfully. "In particular, your feelings on the situation and the fight. How you reacted. Did you have any problems or issues that arose?"

"You want me to talk about my feelings?" Mikey asked incredulously.

"Indeed," Splinter confirmed with a small but sharp nod. "You have not been in a true fight in many months, with but a couple of notable exceptions."

Last week against the Foot went unsaid, As did the altercation with the Purple Dragons the night he'd finally been rescued and that one time he'd managed to escape and tried to help the other captive mutants in the prison instead of just trying to find a way out.

"They did not go so well. I am no psychologist and our traumas are not the same, still, I have some experience with trauma resulting from a particularly bad fight. Going into battle again after such a thing can be hard, Michelangelo. Especially when it has been a while."

Mikey's eyes widened.

"I have only known you a little over three weeks now but I have come to care for you as one of my own and as such, if you are undergoing any distress over what happened today, I wish to know so I may try to help you."

"I'm okay," Mikey replied, awed.

"That is good to know," Splinter replied, inclining his head slightly. "Still, I wish to hear about today, if you are willing."

Mikey frowned and looked down at the table, his eyes tracing the pattern carved into it slowly as he thought. It was kind of nice, someone caring enough to ask and he wished that someone had thought to push Leo like this after they'd finally defeated the Shredder so long ago now. Things probably wouldn't have become as bad as they did if someone had.

"Honestly, I hadn't really thought about it, Sensei. I just saw that Woody needed help and I acted."

Splinter canted his head in interest. "And now? After the fact?" he pressed gently but firmly.

Mikey breathed as he thought some more. "I mean, I guess I did hesitate at first but that wasn't because I was scared and..." he laughed self-consciously, "don't get me wrong, I was scared. Monsters have always freaked me out and that was definitely a monster," he shuddered. "The reason I hesitated was because I promised not to fight or get involved," he said with a shrug. "But Woody called for help and I... couldn't just do nothing. I had to help so I did."

"While I would prefer that you had kept your promise, you did the right thing and I am proud of you for it, Michelangelo."

Mikey straightened and gazed at Splinter as the warmth filled him anew at the praise.

"How about after the altercation? How did you fare then?"

"Again, I didn't really think about it," Mikey replied slowly, thinking back on the immediate aftermath of his impromptu rescue mission, "but... looking back, I felt good. N-not just because I helped someone but that was definitely part of it but because... it felt good to fight like that again." Then Mikey blushed frantically. "I don't mean it felt good to fight because I don't really like fighting as such. I mean, I like sparring and I like taking down the bad guys and so on but... ugh... this is really hard to explain."

"I believe you are doing an admirable job, Michelangelo," Splinter chuckled teasingly.

Mikey shot him a dirty look before shrugging mentally. He took a breath, then tried again. "I like sparring and I like taking down the bad guys however I can but while I won't shy away from a fight and will have fun with it if I can, I don't go looking for them the way Raph does. I mean, sparring and play fighting is one thing but violence for violence's sake, not my scene but I do like the way I feel when I move, the rush of adrenaline. It feels good and that's what I enjoyed about today."

"I believe I understand."

The corners of Mikey's mouth quirked up in a small, rueful smile. "Honestly, I know I can be really lazy and that I'd happily spend all day playing games and stuff if I could but I do need to move. Training can get super boring and that makes it harder to focus on it but it helps take the edge off and lets me spend some of my energy which stops me from going nuts. Today did that for me too. First the skateboarding and exploring and then that fight, short as it was."

"Short at this early stage is likely for the best," Splinter observed solemnly. "As said before, you are not yet ready for sparring or fights, especially since you were recently injured."

"I know, I know, I get it, Sensei," Mikey groaned theatrically. And he really did. That didn't make sitting aside and watching any easier though. A part of him thought he finally understood how his Leo felt when injured or sick and made to sit by and watch but he also knew their motivations were completely different. That didn't make the feeling any less valid, however.

Splinter nodded. "However, perhaps we can compromise."

That snatched at Mikey's attention.

"Tell me, what was Donatello's verdict? Did you do much damage to yourself today?"

Mikey gazed at him for a moment, bringing up his cup to finish off the now-cold tea. "He wasn't thrilled," he admitted once he put the cup down, "but said it didn't appear bad. I coulda told him that and I did," he laughed.

"I recall," Splinter replied dryly.

Mikey's smile turned slightly tight. "I'm a bit more tender than I was this morning and I pulled a muscle in my arm from when I caught Woody when he fell and the kusarigama chain pulled taut but I didn't do any real damage."

"That is a relief to know."

Mikey nodded. It was because he'd hate to have to sit out to heal any longer than he already had to. "I, uh... spoke to Donnie about that, actually," he said, feeling his face heat up again at needing to point out problems when this wasn't his world. Then again, Splinter had just said not long ago that he couldn't stop living his life just because he wasn't in the right world and that meant not avoiding stepping on toes, so to speak. "The sudden stop, I mean. There was no room to try to swing for momentum so there was nothing I could do about that. I asked Donnie if there was a way to make it so the last couple of feet of the chain slowed down instead of just jolting to a stop when it reached the end of the chain. He said he'd look into it."

Splinter nodded approvingly. "Then here is hoping that he is able to come up with a solution," he offered. "In light of what you have said tonight, I will have you join training tomorrow morning. You will do no more than the warm-up stretches and practice your katas and for those, you will do them slowly as if you are practising Tai Chi."

Pulling a face, Mikey groaned. He couldn't think of anything more boring but... at least it was doing something instead of just sitting there and only doing his strengthening exercises.

"We will then see how you go. If it goes well and you feel up to it, you may then join April in the afternoon. Then perhaps, if that is not too much, I will allow you to spar with April during Saturday's lesson."

He instantly perked up at that but cautiously asked, "You mean slow-mo though, like before, right?"

Splinter shook his head. "I do not. However, I do not wish for it to go for more than a minute or two at first, nor do I wish for you to give it your all while you are still healing. I want you to ease yourself back into things while giving April a challenge. After this, we will see how things go. Is this acceptable?"

Michelangelo looked at Splinter with excitement dancing in his heart, nodding frantically, and Splinter smiled back, pleased.

"It is getting late and we have spoken of what we needed to. However, if there is anything else you wish to talk about, we still have time."

"I'm fine, now, Sensei," Mikey replied warmly. "I didn't realise I needed to talk about that stuff but I'm glad we did."

"It was my pleasure, Michelangelo."

Mikey smiled and carefully rose to his feet. He would definitely feel this in the morning and was immediately glad they were taking things in baby steps. He began heading for the door when a sudden thought hit him. He glanced back at the small table with the cups and teapot atop it. Then he looked up to meet Splinter's amber gaze hopefully. "Would you... do you think you could teach me to make that?" he asked almost shyly. He'd never had any interest in tea before and always pooh-poohed it to Leo.

"Of course. I can come show you right now if you like, my grandson."

"Sweet!" Mikey cheered. "Thanks, Grandpa-sensei!"

Rising gracefully to his feet, Splinter smiled back. He walked over and pulled open the shoji door, gesturing for Michelangelo to go through before following and closing it behind him. "Tell me, Michelangelo, are you only interested in learning to make the tea itself or would you also be interested in learning tea ceremony?"

-:-

Michelangelo had just sat down in the pit happily, a cup of his new favourite drink, Silver Needles, beside him and sketchbook in hand when Raphael's annoyed bellow echoed painfully through the lair.

"DONATELLO!"

Concerned, Mikey turned to see Raph storming towards the lab. As he reached out a hand to throw the door open, it seemingly opened of its accord, only for Mikey to see a very wary Donatello peeking out.

"What, Raph?" Donnie asked testily and making Mikey smile, glad to see that though Raph sometimes intimidated the genius, he didn't let it cow him.

"What the hell are you going to do with that damn cat?" Raph snapped, arms crossed and glaring daggers at his brother.

That had Mikey's hearing prick in interest. "What cat?" he couldn't help but ask curiously.

Donnie's face coloured impressively. "April's cat!" he exclaimed in dismay at having forgotten before turning to Michelangelo. "That's right, I meant to tell you, Mike!"

Mikey carefully stood and climbed out of the pit, dropping the sketchbook on the bench he had just vacated. "Tell me about what?" he asked, making his way across the room to join Donnie and the still-glaring Raphael.

"April found a cat today and after trying to find her owner, brought her around for you."

"For me?" Mikey asked hesitantly. His eyes flickered around the room, searching for any sign of the feline and seeing none. "Why would she bring it down for me?"

"For a few reasons, actually."

Donatello proceeded to tell Michelangelo what April had told him, how the owners had moved away and just abandoned the poor animal to survive on her own. Mikey's face darkened at the story and a huge part of him wanted to find and feed and cuddle the poor cat right that instant but another part of him was unsure and wary.

This wasn't his world and while the pragmatic part of him knew he could be trapped here for months or even years, he still had hope of finding a way home sooner.

What if when he did, he was unable to take the cat with him? The cat had already been abandoned once, he couldn't do that to the poor thing again.

On the other hand, hadn't Splinter just told him that he couldn't stop living his life just because he was in the wrong world? What if he never made it back home? Then he'd just be throwing away his life and potential happiness for fear of missing what he had now.

Besides, the cat deserved a home and a life and love just as much as he did and she'd be unlikely to get that if she was taken to a cat shelter as skinny and mangy-looking as Donnie suggested she was. Not to mention that most humans wanted kittens and often overlooked adult cats as a result.

He looked up again at Donnie seriously. "If I take her and it's impossible for me to take her home with me whenever that happens... will you..."

"She'll have a home with us as long as she lives if that happens," Donnie promised confidently.

"Where is she?" Mikey asked, brightening with relief.

"Bathroom," Raph groaned, thumbing towards the corridor. "Stupid cat was watching me when I tried to go," he grumbled. Obviously the source of his prior ire.

Mikey started a moment, wondering why he hadn't noticed in that case, before remembering he'd used the shower in the garage when he came back. He whirled to face the corridor before marching towards the bathroom eagerly, Donnie and Raph at his heels.

Beware of Cat.

Do not let her out.

Mikey stared at the sign on the door, swallowing nervously. He loved cats and missed Klunk so badly that he worried taking on another would hurt too much. However, this cat was not Klunk and she wouldn't be the same. What was the same, though, was that she needed a home and someone to love and take care of her. He pushed the door open carefully, in case she was behind it, then stepped inside, ignoring his other-dimensional brothers as they followed him in. Then, he looked around.

In one corner sat a recently used litter tray and nearby but not too close sat an empty food bowl and a water bowl. He saw no sign of the cat, though.

"Did April tell you her name?" he asked over his shoulder as he lowered himself to his hands and knees, elation filling him as he saw wary golden eyes that reminded him of one of his brothers peering out from beneath the cabinet.

"She didn't," Donnie confirmed, shaking his head. "The cat had an identification chip so the information should have been available. I can text April and ask if you like."

It was late and April probably long in bed now so it was likely there wouldn't be a reply until morning. Mikey smiled warmly at the skittish animal, calling out, "Here, kitty, kitty. I won't hurt you."

The cat didn't come out though.

Mikey frowned to himself. He couldn't just call her kitty and she already had a name but... it had been given to her by people who abandoned her and left her to survive, hungry and alone on the cold streets. Rare anger filled him and for a moment, he wanted to find out where they lived and send them a photo of their former furbaby, showing them how their cruel actions affected her. However, he pushed those thoughts aside and focused on the cat again.

"Where's her food?" he asked in a gentle voice.

"Oh, um, in my room for the moment. I'll go get some."

Mikey nodded and continued talking soothing nonsense to get the cat used to him as Donnie left and came back a short time later. He handed Mikey a small can and Mikey cracked it open, tipping it into the nearby bowl.

"Are you hungry, kitty?" he cajoled softly, pushing the bowl towards her but not so close that she wouldn't have to come out to eat.

"Hey, Donnie and I should leave," Raph offered uncomfortably. "Too many of us in here is probably spooking her."

Mikey nodded gratefully and the other two left. He smiled and continued talking in a soft voice and finally, the cat emerged from hiding and his breath caught as his anger resurfaced.

She was so skinny he could see her ribs!

And mangy didn't even begin to cover it. She was missing patches of her fur and looked like she'd been in a fight not too long ago.

He shook with barely suppressed fury as he watched her desperately eat and all he could do was hope she wouldn't make herself sick.

Slowly sitting up, he reached down for his T-phone to take that photo after all.

Those people didn't deserve to know how she was and neither did they deserve to have another pet ever again. Still, he wanted them to know what they'd done and hoped they'd at least have enough humanity to feel guilt for their cruel actions.

-:-

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.