"CASEY!"

The blackette raises his arm to protect himself because, fuck, he knows this is going to hurt. There is a fleeting thought that shoots through him that he hopes that if he IS crushed under that heavy oak dresser that Mikey is left alone long enough for someone to come help him. A snarled grunt breaks through the pounding of his heartbeat in his ears. Casey's eyes snap open and he glances up.

"Leo! Raph!"

Both of the turtles are grunting as they work to keep the heavy piece of furniture from collapsing on top of all of them. Raph cracks open a golden eye and shoots Casey a strand smirk.

"We can't leave ya fer five seconds, *grunt* can we?" Raph huffs out, grunting again as he readjusts his hands.

"Hey! I ain't as bad as Mike or Leo!" Casey argues, a sense of normality washing over him as he shakingly springs to his feet, ready to help the two put the dresser back when some furniture in the back corner starts falling over and moving around.

"Casey," Leo calls out, gaining the blackette's attention. "Get Michelangelo out of here. *Grunt* Raph and I will be right behind you."

Casey meets Leo's gaze, hesitating for a moment, not liking the thought of leaving two young males up here by themselves. What if the spirit thing attacks them? But there is a gleam of determination in the leaf-green turtle's eyes that has his words of argument dying in his throat.

Steeling his resolve, Casey nods and turns. His heart breaks as he spots the youngest turtle still on the floor, ocean blue eyes wide with fear. The blackette can see a sense of relief wash over the fun-loving turtle as he rushes for him.

Mikey reaches out for him.

"Casey! You're okay! I thought-You were-" Mikey stammers as Casey kneels next to him, blue eyes blurring as unshed tears start to form. Casey places a hand on the teen's head and offers him a lopsided smile, doing his best to exude his normal confidence.

"Hey, hey, it's gonna be okay," Casey soothes as he does a quick scan of the young turtle to make sure he didn't get hurt when they both fell. He can't exactly tell since the teen is wearing such baggy clothes but nothing looks to be bent awkwardly so Casey is going to take that as a good sign for right now. "I'm all good and fine. Yer bros really do have some fuckin' good timin'." Casey's smile turns a bit more genuine when Mikey laughs wetly. "Let's get ya outta here."

Mikey sobers quickly when Casey starts lifting him and he shoots a panicked look over the blackette's shoulder before looking back at the older male.

"Bu-But Leo and Raphie…"

Casey's face softens. "Dey're gonna be okay, Kiddo. Dey're tough cookies."

Mikey's face pinches, his mouth opening to argue when a tingle runs down the side of Mikey's head.

"Duck!"

On reflex, Casey does as Mikey orders just as a loud SMASH echoes through the attic. The two exchange a wide-eyed look as they stare at the smashed remains of an old lamp.

"CASEY!" Leo snarls, snapping the two of them out of their stupor. "Get him out of here! NOW!"

Mikey tenses in Casey's arms as he watches Leo and Raph daftly knocking other floating objects from the air as they try to zip toward them. Casey nods and without another word, rushes out of the attic. Mikey's heart jackhammers in his chest as they reach the bottom of the stairs and he can't help but be relieved to see that the door is still open. He does catch a quick glimpse of the shoe that he put in the doorway, the shoe laying in a different position than how he left it. A sick pit forms in the seafoam green turtle's stomach as he realizes what that means.

The spirit tried to lock us in!

Mikey's hands grasp at the front of his sweatshirt as they hurry into the main part of the house.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

The two of them slide to a stop as the loud sound of someone banging on a door filters through the house as well. On reflex, Mikey leans closer to Casey as he wildly looks around for the source of the noise.

CRACK!

Casey whips around when the sound of splintering wood replaces the banging and he tightens his hold on Mikey as they both stare at the back door. There is a large silhouette standing on the other side of the door.

"C-Casey?" Mikey whispers as he feels the blackette take a few steps back.

Ice blue eyes narrow as Casey frantically glances around.

"Uh, we're…We're okay, Mikey. Just…Just keep calm. Raph and Leo will be down in a sec and whoever is outside dey can help us han—"

SLAM!

Mikey curls into Casey as the older male hunches over him as the back door bursts open. Tension leaves the two when April, Splinter, and Donnie rush into the house, weapons drawn and breathing heavily. The three frantically glance around and Mikey can spot the moment they spot him and Casey by the way all three of their bodies sag with relief. Splinter sheaths his sword back into his walking stick and rushes forward.

"Michelangelo!" Splinter's hands cup freckled cheeks and his keen eyes flicker over the smaller form. "Are you injured, Watashi no nikkō?"

Mikey shakes his head, throat constricting at the sense of protection and security washing over him now that his father and one of his big brothers is here. April and Donnie join the older mutant in surrounding the two. The redhead looks up at Casey, green eyes shining with worry and concern.

"Casey, what's going on?"

Casey releases an angry huff as an irritated scowl forms.

"Dat stupid spirit thing tricked me," Casey growls. "It had me believin' dat ya were in da attic and needed my help while Mike was in da bathroom. I stupidly went up ta help only ta not find ya." Casey glances off to the side, eyes landing on the attic door, waiting for Raph and Leo to appear, slowly lowering Mikey so that he can stand but keeps a hold on the young . "I shoulda known somethin' was off when I couldn't find ya at all."

Mikey glances up at the blackette and pats his chest.

"Case-man, don't be so hard on yourself! You were just trying to—"

SLAM!

"Somebody grab me a chair!"

The small group spins toward the sound of Raph's voice as it filters into the room right after the sound of a door slamming shut. Leo and Raph are pressed against the closet door as it shakes as if someone or something is slamming their entire body weight against it, trying to open it.

Donnie is the first to react and rushes for the armchair as he puts his Bo on his back. Casey shoves Mikey into Splinter so that the older mutant can help the younger stand and hurries to help, the two pushing the heavy Lazy Boy across the wooden floor toward the struggling teens as they fight to keep the door closed.

The sound of more rattling fills the space as if the entire house is shaking with an anger that is radiating from an unseen entity. Mikey's hands find his father's robe as he shoots a fearful look at the basement door, hating how that door rattles violently behind the couch. Lights flicker on and off rapidly and the sound of the blender going off in the kitchen joins the choir of noises. A high-pitched whistling whizzes through the house, a sound almost like a frustrated wail.

"Why is it so angry?!" Mikey shouts out as he shoots his father a wide-eyed look. "What did we do?!"

Splinter looks down at his son, meeting that panicked gaze as his mind races. How on earth can he answer such a question when all he has is questions of his own.

A twinge of fear spikes inside of Mikey at his father's silence. How can they defeat and defend themselves against something that even has his father stumped?

"…im…t…me."

The young turtle's head snaps back over to the basement door, heart skipping a beat. Was…Was that a voice? No. It couldn't have been a voice. Except… maybe it could be? His not-father spoke to him, twice if he recalls. Once right before he fell and injured himself and again when he went to close the basement door. So…is it really farfetched to think that the spirit is calling out again?

Maybe…Maybe it's just angry because we're not helping them? Mikey thinks, biting his bottom lip. His snout twitches. Except…Except there has always been an air of WRONG whenever the entity has been around. Dangerous and wrong. Which isn't what a spirit that needs help would feel like, would it?

"..iv…hi…t…me."

Ocean-blue eyes flicker up to his father and then back over to the basement door. That is definitely a voice. But nobody else is reacting to it. So, is the entity merely calling out to him? Is that how it works? But why him? What does he have that nobody else in his family has that makes the entity or spirit thing want HIS help? He's just Mikey! The loveable goofball! Leo and his father are the ones with all the knowledge on spiritual stuff and how to deal with it, so why not reach out to them? Shell. Donnie and Raph would be better options then him as well. Donnie is a genius for crying out loud! He has a device for everything! And if he didn't? He'd make one! And Raph? Well, Raph is so stubborn that he would figure out a way to just use his fists to help the spirit.

Uncertainty fills the young turtle when he feels his father's arms tighten around him as the seven of them just watch as the house continues to freak out around them. Mikey's eye ridges furrow as he tries to think through all the noise and panic happening around him. Maybe…Maybe they should just try talking to it? See what this entity wants? Talking always helps, right? Communication is key and all that.

Eyes returning to the basement door, Mikey watches as it rattles in a way that he has only ever seen in movies. The sight and sound has his heart leaping into his throat. A voice in the back of his head tells him that if the entity truly meant no harm than he wouldn't feel this scared of it. But he shoves it away. He had been scared of Leatherhead the first time he met him and the two of them ended up fighting. Once he was able to speak with Leatherhead, that scared and dangerous feeling went away. This could be something similar.

Won't know until you try right? The nunchaku wielder thinks as he releases a shaky breath, steeling his nerves.

"Wha-What do you want?" Mikey whispers quietly, hoping to not draw attention to himself. He knows he doesn't succeed when he feels the sudden stare of his father on him and the older mutant is drawing him closer. However, he keeps his eyes on the basement door, hoping that the spirit heard him and won't make him ask again.

Then, all at once. Everything stops and the air goes still. The lights remain on and the doors and shutters stop rattling and all of the appliances in the kitchen go silent. The seven of them exchange a look.

"Is…Is it over?" Donnie asks quietly, fingers flexing, having redrawn his Bo.

Mikey bites his lip as Leo twirls his blades. Mikey watches as his eldest brother slowly surveys the space with narrowed eyes.

"Something tells me that no, it's not over," Leo says in a low voice.

Raph glares at the blue-cladded turtle.

"Oh? And why's dat, Fea—"

Scratch. Scratch. Scratch.

The hothead falls quiet as the sound of wood being scratched cuts him off. Mikey presses closer to his father as he joins everyone in glancing around. A harsh shiver has Mikey furrowing his eye ridges in confusion before he realizes that the scratching sounds close. Almost too close. Holding his breath, Mikey slowly looks down at his feet. A choked noise leaves him and he stumbles backwards, tripping on his father's robe.

"Michelangelo!" Splinter exclaims as he tightens his hold on his panicking son. "Watashi no nikkō, whatever is the…"

The ninja master trails off as he follows his youngest's gaze down to the floor. An 'M' and 'I' have been scratched into the wood and it appears that a 'K' is slowly being scratched out.

Without thinking, Splinter wraps his arms around Mikey and easily drags the smaller form a good seven feet away from where the word is forming. The others having seen both reactions also follow their gaze. Stunned silence falls over the room as they watch in horror as the rest of the letters follow suite.

M-I-K-E-Y

A lump forms in Mikey's throat as he tries to swallow, his heart racing.

"What da shell is going on?" Raph asks, breaking the silence. "Why da shell did it just write out Mikey's name?"

Mikey's fingers tighten on where they cling to his father's robe. He turns wide eyes to his family before glancing up at Splinter. He whispers:

"Be-Because I asked what it wanted."

Mikey flinches as his family erupts into a mass of sound at his confession.

"Ya did WHAT?!"

"Michelangelo! Why one earth would you-?!"

"Mikey! That could have been-!"

He covers his ears for a moment, eyes squeezed shut. He knew his family would be upset but he wasn't expecting them to react so strongly.

"Enough."

Silence falls over the room and Mikey lifts his head as he slowly lowers his hands from his head. He stares up at his father. Hazelnut brown eyes meet ocean blue. Splinter's face softens as he studies his son's face and he holds his hand out for his son. Mikey glances down at the hand. He hesitates for a moment before reaching out. Splinter takes the seafoam green hand into his pink hand and gently tugs his son closer to him.

"You are all right, my son. You were curious and got your answer. Was it one we wanted? No. Was it one we already suspected to be correct?" Splinter pauses, closing his eyes and breathing in deeply then releasing it slowly. He meets Mikey's gaze with his own once more. "Yes. But right now? We all need to calm down." He hugs Mikey to his chest as he turns his gaze to the others. "We allow ourselves to lose control of our emotions and then that entity has won. We need to be levelheaded and think through our options."

The remaining five exchange a glance as Mikey watches them from his hiding place against his father. His eyes land on his eldest brother whose chestnut brown eyes turn and meet his. Leo's features melt a bit before his shoulders square and a flash of determination ignites in his eyes.

"Father, I think that the best option would be to get Mikey out of here. Return him home where it's safe and we have our wards up. Then we can return here and help Mama Jones get rid of whatever it is that is trying to harm Mikey."

Mikey blinks and leans back to look up at his father. Wards? Since when did they have wards in the lair? The youngest Hamato bites his bottom lip as he watches his father think over Leo's suggestion. There is twitch in his father's whiskers that tells the young turtle that he isn't completely convinced with the plan. So it's much to Mikey's surprise when his father inclines his head.

"Very well. Let us attempt to get Michelangelo out of here. Donatello. Raphael. Go upstairs and pack as much as you can." Donnie and Raph nod and vanish. "Ms. O'Neil. You and Mr. Jones should do so as well. Nobody is going to be left here alone." Splinter turns toward Leo as April and Casey nod, both sprinting for the bedroom. Casey stands at the door as April rushes in, holding the door as if to keep it from closing.

And locking them in like it tried to do with us in the attic, Mikey thinks as he clings to his father's emerald robes. Splinter's arms tighten around him.

"And me, Father?"

"Leonardo, you shall stay with me and keep watch for any signs of our unwanted guest." Leo nods as their father speaks and he approaches them silently. "We do not know just how powerful this entity is yet or all that it can do. Whatever just happened could have taken a lot of their current energy or it could be just a taste of what they are holding back from us."

Leo stops right next to them and rests a hand on Mikey's covered shell. He offers his brother a reassuring smile before looking up at their father. He lowers his voice even though he knows that the entity could probably hear him no matter how softly they speak.

"And if that was only a quarter of their power?"

Splinter looks at his eldest son, hating how much responsibility and maturity swirls in eyes so young and yet he can't help but feel proud. Proud that his son is stepping up like the leader he always knew that Leonardo would be. Stepping up during a time when he would hold nothing against his eldest child for being terrified and looking toward him for a solution or guidance.

Splinter's ears twitch and he shoots a glare toward the basement door.

"Then we shall deal with it as it comes." He glances at his sons with a sideways glance. "All we can do is be prepared for anything and prepare as if that wasn't the only thing that entity can do."

Leo nods and takes a step closer to his youngest brother, angling himself toward the basement door.

"Don't worry, Otōto. We're not going to let anything happen to you. We're going to protect you."

Mikey looks between his father and big brother. A spark of love shoots through him but there is also an ember of concern and panic.

But who's going to protect all of you?

As if hearing his thoughts, Leo turns to look at his brother again. Mikey stares up at him. Leo smiles gently down at his little brother. He opens his mouth.

"Okay! We've got all our stuff, Father!" Raph says, causing Leo to snap his mouth shut as both the emerald turtle and olive turtle leap from the loft carrying all the bags on their shoulders. Donnie and Raph jog up to the three.

"We're also done!" April calls out, rushing out of their room with their suitcases in hand. Casey is close behind her, eyes flickering about with his keys already in hand.

"Babe, let's switch," Casey says, reaching for the bags and tossing April the keys. "Ya drive faster and better den I do."

April nods, placing the bags down and seamlessly catching the keys at the same time. Casey scoops up the bags and nods toward the door. Raph and Donnie are already hurrying toward the front door. Everyone seems to hold their breath as Raph reaches for the doorknob. A collective sigh of relief can be heard when the knob turns and Raph swings the door open. He holds the door, ushing everyone pass him. Mikey clings to Leo as Splinter guides the two of them to the door. Raph shares a look with Leo as the three pass by Splinter, the eldest mutant hesitating to hold the door to allow Raph to exit before him. Raph also hesitates a beat before exiting and Splinter couldn't be more thankful that he didn't have to argue with his more hotheaded child to get him out and away from the house.

Splinter exhales shakily and shoots a look back over his shoulder. His eyes narrow. A space that usually radiates such warmth and love is clouded in a dark grey and a feeling of hostility. Splinter shakes his head, silently wondering what he had done in a past life to bring such misfortune to his family, to his loved ones. His children never deserved such fates that seemed to have followed them the moment they turned fifteen and how April and Casey seemed bound to be dragged into their messes when the two humans have done nothing but been kind and helpful to them.

Lips pursed, Splinter shuts the door behind him, double checking that it is locked before heading for the vehicles. His eyes narrow and his ears perk up when he sees his family merely standing around the cars rather than climbing inside.

"Is there a problem?"

Everyone turns to look at the older male and his heartrate speeds up at the disappointed and concerned looks on their faces. Splinter easily spots his genius son kneeling next to the tires. Donnie looks up with an upset frown on his face.

"All of the tires have been deflated." Concern swirls in his hazel eyes. "Both on the BattleShell and on April's van. We can't drive on these?"

Raph growls. "What? Sliced tires too cliché fer da freak in da basement dat it gotta just deflate our stupid tires!"

Splinter reaches out and places his hand on his red-cladded son's shoulder in a calming gesture. Raph grumbles and crosses his arms but falls silent, a golden glare on the deflated tires. Splinter squeezes his shoulder.

"Are they merely deflated or slashed?"

Donnie runs a finger over the tire before standing and stretching.

"They're only deflated, which is nice but the only pump that Mama Jones has here on the farm is a hand pump." Donnie winces as he looks his father in the eye. "And there is no way we'll be able to utilize that to pump up the BattleShell's tires. I have an electric pump in the BattleShell but it's not really meant to refill a completely deflated tire, it's meant for topping off a tire after I patch it up if it gains a leak. My heavy duty pump is back in the warehouse."

Splinter nods, shooting a look over to his eldest and youngest son as his genius son speaks. Leo is holding Mikey close, rubbing his arms and rocking him slightly, trying to keep the youngest warm. Needing to think fast, the older mutant looks over at Casey.

"How swiftly would your mother be able to come to the farmhouse?"

Casey scratches the back of his head.

"Uh, depends on what we tell her, honestly. She's made it out here in less den an hour when it normally take her about an hour and a half." Casey drops his hand, his icy blue eyes serious as he studies the mutant rat. "Ya know she'd drop everything fer ya guys if we tell her dat we got a problem."

April pulls out her phone.

"You want me to call her?"

Splinter glances between the two humans.

"Are you comfortable having her involved? I do not want to risk another one of our family to this yokai if I can help it. However," Splinter starts, whiskers twitching and tail swaying behind him. "She may be our only chance to get Michelangelo some place safe as we try to deal with ridding your grandparents' home of this unwanted guest."

"But I don't wanna leave if all of you can't come with me!" Mikey exclaims, ocean blue eyes wide and a frown on his face. Leo hugs his closer, muttering softly to him that has the youngest whining and burying his face back into Leo's shoulder.

"I know, Watashi no nikkō," Splinter replies softly, hating to see any of his children so upset. "But—"

"But it's ya dat da demon thing wants, Knucklehead!" Raph interrupts, turning his golden glare over toward his little brother.

Hazelnut brown eyes lift skyward at the interruption, Splinter squeezing his hotheaded son's shoulder in warning. A huff leaves his emerald, green son once more.

"Michelangelo," Splinter starts, waiting until his youngest peeks out at him. "We do not wish to be separated from you either. However, you are in far more danger being here than the rest of us. No," Splinter holds up a hand when Mikey goes to argue. "You have been the main target of this yokai meaning that as long as you are here, you are going to be in the most danger." When Mikey doesn't argue but goes back to hiding in Leo's shoulder, Splinter has to resist the urge to sigh. He, instead, glances back over at Casey and April.

Casey straightens.

"Ma would be more upset if we didn't tell her what's been goin' on, so I'm good ta let her know."

Splinter nods and turns his gaze back onto April.

"Ms. O'Neil?"

"Already on it," April states, putting her phone to her ear.

Splinter breathes out slowly, gently nudging Raph toward Leo and Mikey as Donnie joins the duo in blocking the wind from hitting the youngest. Getting the hint, Raph joins his brothers, grumbling softly under his breath. Splinter shakes his head before he turns and looks back at the house, the dark windows doing nothing to reassure the older mutant, an ominous air surrounding a once cheerful home. Behind him, Splinter listens silently as April starts talking with Mrs. Jones, briefly explaining the situation.

"Great, thanks, Mrs.-err- Mama Jones," April says before tapping end on her cell. A grim look is on her face as the redhead looks at her family. "Mama Jones said she's on her way. She was down in the cities visiting a friend so it'll take her about four hours to reach us."

Leo lifts his head to look over at the three adults, his chestnut brown eyes wide and making him appear very much his age in a way that breaks Splinter's heart.

"So, what shall we do until then, Father?"

Six set of eyes land on the older mutant and Splinter straightens, smoothing down his maroon robe. Squaring his shoulders, he turns back toward the house.

"We go back inside and we wait."