Rating: T (for language)

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 – Far From Home'.

Leo stepped carefully down into the pit, sitting nearby. "I never should have left you alone last night. I'm sorry, Mike."

Mikey whipped his head to face Leo in surprise, blinking. "You don't have to baby me, dude!" he protested.

Leo blushed in embarrassment at the insinuation. "I'm not babying you, Mike, I..." he sighed and turned his gaze forward, staring sightlessly at the TV. "This isn't the first time you've panicked..."

It's Christmas and Mikey's been trapped in the wrong dimension for almost a year now, all while desperately missing his true family. Still, he's determined to make sure his other-dimensional family have the best holiday he possibly can, no matter how hard things are or how terrified he is and maybe, just maybe, he'll realise that his found family is just as important.

2k3/2k12 crossover.

A/N: This story is set during 'AOtGO - Far From Home' but in the 2k12 side of the multiverse.

For anyone who has not read any of the 'AOtGO' series, all you really need to know is that 2k12 Mikey is missing and 2k3 Mikey, who is believed dead by his family, is trapped in the 2k12 universe. Basically, it's a Mikey-swap XD

A Very AOtGO Christmas

AOtGO – Aftermath Xmas special

ch 1

23rd December

Michelangelo carefully touched his brush to the canvas and delicately dabbed one last time, his masterpiece finally almost finished. It had taken some practice and a lot of work to get his skills back up to where he was happy with them but get his skills back after so many months without art, he had and standing back, critically appraising his painting, he was pretty happy with what he saw. It just needed a few more touches here and there on the shading and it would be complete. Unfortunately, though, it would have to wait as with Christmas just two days away and so much to do to prepare, he didn't have time to do more now, unless he wanted to risk ruining it.

Careful not to smudge the wet paint, he lifted the canvas by the back edge and sat it out of the way before grabbing the protective cover and placing it over it, carefully arranging it so the material did not come into contact with any paint. He wished he could've finished it in time for Christmas, he thought with a pang in his heart, but considering he was trapped in the wrong dimension and had no way of giving it to his family anyway, what did it matter if he finished it late? The family portrait was one he'd been planning since the previous Christmas for the next and he would've given anything to be able to give it to them but barring some Christmas miracle of finally finding his way home, that was impossible.

Unfortunately, right now he had another family that needed him and it wouldn't have been fair to push them to try yet another dimension (or more) this close to Christmas.

Mikey sighed unhappily and pushing the depressive thoughts from his mind, plastered a bright, cheerful smile on his face and headed for the kitchen to make a start on the baking.

-:-

He was just pulling the first tray of cookies from the oven and fending off hungry and curious red and blue banded turtles when April and Casey finally arrived, calling out their hellos as they entered the lair.

Raph and Leo took advantage of the momentary distraction to snatch at the goodies on the tray before taking off with their prizes and Mikey sighed as the two humans appeared in the doorway, April chuckling knowingly as she gazed after the thieves. Casey breathed in deeply in appreciation for the warm, delicious scent emanating from the kitchen.

"Hey, so what smells so good?"

"Shortbread and no, you can't have any now!" Mikey replied shortly, annoyed with himself for his inattention. Honestly, though, it wasn't that big of a deal. He'd expected someone to make a play for the cookies (it always happened back home) and he'd long learnt to make extra. Still... he looked critically at the tray. Leo and Raph had grabbed all of the same shaped pieces and that was totally going to ruin the aesthetic.

"Why not?" Casey whined, surreptitiously slipping closer in hopes of snatching something for himself. Mikey wasn't fooled one bit. This Casey was just as obvious as the Casey back home. And just as reckless. "They got some," he pointed out petulantly, thumbing in the direction Raph and Leo took off in. "Besides, they taste better hot!"

April smiled sympathetically to cover up her amused laughter. Mikey wasn't fooled there either.

"How many did they get?"

"Two each. No, wait, someone got three," Mikey grumbled, eyeing the tray dramatically.

"That's not so bad," April pointed out, her smile growing slightly.

"It is when every piece they took was the same shape," Mikey moaned. "Couldn't they have at least taken different shapes?"

April laughed again as Casey's hand darted out to snatch one for himself, grinning cheekily as he offered to take a different shape but Michelangelo was faster and whacked his hand with the wooden spoon.

"Ow!" Casey whined, snatching back his hand. Michelangelo only scoffed at the overreaction – he hadn't hit that hard. "Come on, Mike! Just one won't hurt!"

Mikey fixed the younger teenager with a gimlet stare. "Do you still want gift packages for your dad and sister?" he drawled. At Casey's request several days ago, he'd agreed to make up gifts for him to take home and Casey brought in the cellophane and curling ribbon to make them up.

"Yeah, 'course I do!" Casey protested loudly.

"Okay," Mikey smiled sweetly. "Which packet do you want one less in then? Your dad's or your sister's? 'cause I'm not cutting Murakami-san's down."

Casey stared at him gape-jawed and Mikey laughed.

"Take a tree, a bell or a bauble, no stars and only one!" He turned to April, "You can take one too, dudette. Whichever shape Casey doesn't take."

"Thanks," April said with a grateful smile. "Can I take one for Don too? Since I doubt the others gave him one."

"Sure," Mikey agreed easily, watching Casey like a hawk to make sure he only took the one.

April took the backpack off her shoulder and unloaded it on the bench beside the sink. "You are nearly finished in here, aren't you?" she asked as Casey took his leave with his biscuit to go find Raph.

Mikey shook his head. "Not really but I can take a break and come back later," he offered curiously. "Why?"

"We're going to put up the tree and decorate the living room and you have to help too."

Mikey smiled widely and put away the perishables April had brought down.

He could hardly wait.

-:-

The entire family gathered near the pit as Casey hefted a large, rectangular box, assuring them it wasn't heavy, just bulky as he staggered across the room with it. Raph rolled his eyes at his friend's stupidity and stalked over to help, brusquely grabbing at one end.

"Sorry it's an artificial tree," April apologised, "but we didn't think trying to bring a real one down here would be easy."

Donnie shook his head understandingly. "It wouldn't be very practical either and at least this way, we can use it again next year."

April smiled, shooting Donnie a warm look. "That's what I thought. Besides, you guys already have a living tree and we brought lights for that too."

"Sweet!" Mikey cheered. "Does that mean we're decorating the dojo too?"

Splinter chuckled, shaking his head. "Only if it is kept to a minimum. I think the common area and the kitchen will be decoration enough."

Mikey pouted momentarily and then shrugged as Raph cut the tape on the box open with a kunai and began pulling the pieces out, staring at each with a weird, perplexed look. "Fair enough but you're not going to make us train on Christmas, are you, Grandpa-sensei?"

"No, you all have the week off until after New Year," Splinter promised solemnly. "Though any training or sparring any of you choose to do over the holiday is encouraged."

Mikey shot a look Leo's way, sure that Splinter was permitting him specifically. Leo, this one or even his own brother, would probably have kittens if he wasn't allowed to train just because 'break'. He smothered a laugh at the mental imagery, grinning as Leo eyed him suspiciously and resolved to sketch an image of Leo surrounded by kittens and trapped far from his swords the next chance he had.

Meanwhile, Raph stared at the mess of tree pieces in confusion; base, trunk and so, so many branches. Donnie quickly moved in, sorting them out and then with Leo's help, began putting the tree together. Before long, a six-foot-tall bushy tree stood proudly in place and Mikey's smile broadened as he began singing, "It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas," in an overly loud, obnoxious voice. He was elbowed hard by a glaring Raph for his trouble.

"Leave the stupid carols for Christmas Day," he grumbled, giving Mikey the stink-eye.

"Kechi!" Mikey retorted with a laugh, trying out one of the new words he'd recently learnt during his lessons with the others. He elbowed Raph back and for a moment, thought Raph would escalate things but a warning look their way from Splinter quickly put paid to that and Raph instead stepped away.

"So," Mikey began instead, bouncing on the spot, "do we have decorations?" he looked obviously around the room. There were a couple of large bags by the entrance and at April's nod towards them, skipped over to them.

"We also have some in storage," Leo piped up, sounding a bit embarrassed. "They're old though and uh... what we've managed to scavenge or make over the years. We probably don't need them this year though," he said, gazing thoughtfully at the bags Mikey hauled up to bring closer to the tree.

"Stuff you made?" Mikey perked up eagerly, Dropping the bags, he opened them to discover lights and baubles, tinsel and bells and a huge tree-topping star. "Sounds like stuff we totally need then, dude. Whereabouts in storage?"

The three younger turtles looked at each other in deepening embarrassment, turning various shades of red but before anyone could comment and argue against needing them, Splinter chuckled. "Raphael can show you, my grandson."

Mikey grinned broadly even as Raphael groaned.

"Do I have to, Sensei? Case and April brought down all this cool stuff so we don't need that shabby garbage this year." Raph glanced uncomfortably at Casey, expecting the brash teen to tease them if they brought out that old kiddie stuff. April, at least, had seen it all the previous Christmas when she was forced to live with them for several months.

Splinter fixed Raphael with a stern look which had Raph wilting. "Just because our old decorations are not new and shiny, does not mean there is no value in bringing them out. We made those decorations together as a family and particularly with your brother still missing, it is important to include him in the festivities."

"Hai Sensei," Raph muttered, chagrined. "Come on, Mike." He sighed as he walked towards the turnstiles, leading Mikey out to the corner of the garage that they'd moved their storage to a few weeks after Mikey arrived.

Reluctantly, he pointed out a large box to the other-dimensional turtle and together, the pair picked it up, carrying it back to the lair where they carefully placed it down near the pit. Mikey eagerly opened it, pawing through the contents of streamers made of paper circles, colourful woollen strings braided together and lopsided cardboard stars covered in foil or rainbow coloured-in paper glued to them. Some of them looked like they'd seen better days but Mikey felt the love and joy in the making of the hand-made decorations regardless. He beamed up at Splinter as he gently lifted out the paper streamers, careful not to tear them.

"These are really great!" he said enthusiastically.

Raph cringed while Donnie and Leo attempted to keep their faces expressionless - Donnie however, couldn't keep the colour from tinting his cheeks and giving away his embarrassment. Casey smothered a laughed as April jabbed him hard in the side.

"We should totally use these for the tree in the dojo!" Mikey cheered happily. "We can put the lights on it first, then decorate with these!" He turned back to the box and after carefully moving more items, uncovered the greatest treasure. Medium-sized cardboard circles on strings. Each had whitish paper, some stained and discoloured, glued to them and on each side, were individual drawings. As Mikey turned them over in his hands reverently, he saw some had rough portraits of the family members and some had other things drawn on them. It was all he could do not to coo "Aww" and embarrass his other-dimensional brothers all the more. Then, he saw it. Unable to help himself, he lifted one out of the box and turned to grin wickedly at Leonardo. "You made this one, didn't you, dude?"

Leo went bright red at the sight of the handmade bauble with the 'Space Heroes' insignia on one side and a childish drawing of Captain Ryan on the other.

"How old were you guys when you made these?" Mikey asked, twisting slightly in his crouched position to take in the others.

Donnie took the cardboard bauble from Mikey's hand. "We started making one each every year since we were five but I believe Leo made this one two years ago."

Leo gave Donnie a very dirty look, even as Raph snickered loudly.

Mikey brightened once more as he pulled out another with a simple, yet very good drawing of a small turtle on it. He turned to smile up at Raph. "Did you do this one?" he asked, holding it out for Raph to see and Raph's sharp, piercing gaze softened in response. "Is this Spike?" He'd of course heard about Spike and only briefly come across Slash.

"Yeah," Raph grunted softly, reaching out and tenderly taking the bauble. He swallowed and Mikey was sure he was fighting back, if not tears, then at least misty eyes.

"He's really cute. I can see why you miss him." The care and love that had gone into the picture gave away just how much Raph had cared.

Raphael nodded wordlessly, fighting not to hold the drawing so obviously close.

Leaving Raph to what little privacy he had left, Mikey turned back to the box again, only to pull out a bauble with a very technical drawing filled with lots of straight lines clearly made with a ruler on it. He gave Donnie an amused but calculating look as he held it up. "A snowflake, dude?"

Donnie stiffened, sure Mike was making fun of him. Still, he refused to be embarrassed or shamed by the older turtle. "Yes. The crystalline structure of one, at any rate. Did you know that no two snowflakes are alike?"

"They aren't?" Mikey asked with wide, impressed eyes.

"Every single snowflake is unique, much like a human's finger..." Donnie's face suddenly fell as the amusement on Mike's face grew. "You already knew that and were just making fun of me," he accused.

"No!" Mikey choked with barely suppressed laughter. "I mean, yeah, I knew already bro but I wasn't making fun of you. Just..." his expression softened into a fond smile as his mirth died down. "I know you like to share and I like seeing you happy. Both you and Don." Then he added softly, "If explaining things makes you happy, which I know it does when people actually listen, then I'm happy to let you explain."

Casey stood there blinking uncertainly and he leaned into April, whispering in her ear. "Don't tell gap-tooth but he's wrong. All snow looks the same."

Donnie immediately shot Casey a nasty look. "Of course, it all looks the same! The crystalline structure is far too small to see with the human eye. You'd need a microscope for that!" he snapped.

Mikey nodded eagerly. "You should totally look at one if you ever get the chance, Case. It's super cool and pretty!"

Donnie turned sharply to Mike. "You've seen snow under a microscope before?"

"Yeah, dude! Don's shown me heaps of different and cool things with his microscope before!"

A wistful expression crossed Donnie's face for a moment before he smothered it and instead nodded.

Mikey turned back to the box again. There were so many flat baubles in there that it felt overwhelming. He looked up at the brothers. "Show me one Mikey made?"

All three hesitated, looking at each other uncertainly. Then Leo stepped forward to peer into the box for himself. A moment later, he reached inside and pulled one out. "This one," he said tenderly, his voice thick with emotion as he longingly gazed down at it.

Realising that Leo didn't want to let go, Mikey didn't try to take it. Instead, he peered past Leo to see it. On it, was a crudely drawn but very recognisable family of five. Four turtles and one humanoid rat. Feeling the love in the image, Mikey twisted and bent over to peer at the other side. A moment later, Leo turned it to accommodate him and on it was a drawing of a beautiful Japanese woman and a small baby. Tang Shen and Miwa, Mikey realised. Karai, as she was known today.

Mikey felt a pang in his heart. Despite having met neither (and having no idea Miwa was Karai and therefore alive), the other Mikey obviously held a huge amount of love for them and wanted to include them in their Christmas any way he could. Mikey smiled.

"I know... you guys said you didn't make these anymore but... do you think... we can... revive the tradition and make some tomorrow?" he asked hesitantly. This could be his way to include his own family in their celebration and... hopefully... he'd be gone, returned home by the following year and... it would leave them with something of him as well.

Splinter smiled warmly at the suggestion. "That would be a fine idea, my grandson."

-:-

Several hours later, the lair was decorated, the family room, the kitchen and the living tree all. Mikey had made a few more batches of biscuits; shortbread, choc chip, sugar cookies and peanut butter blossoms, and he invited everyone into the kitchen to help decorate them with icing, if they promised not to eat any. He was certain that Raph and Casey especially, had broken that promise but it was okay because that's why he'd made extra. Besides, from the laughter and jokes, everyone had enjoyed themselves and the chance to be part of the preparations and this way, when Casey gave the cellophane-wrapped gifts to his father and sister and April to her aunt, they could both honestly claim they'd had a hand in making them.

Now, April and Casey had returned home for the night, promising to return after lunch the next day to join everyone in making baubles of their own and everyone else had gone their separate ways. Donnie to his lab with strict instructions that no one, not even Splinter, was to enter without knocking and waiting for his okay, Leo and Splinter to the dojo to meditate under the tree and wind down for the night. Raph and himself to the pit with the TV on, Mikey with a sketchbook in hand and Raph playing gently with Mikey's cat. Their game had since died down and Leahpar was curled beside Raph, purring like a jet engine as he scratched firmly at her head and chin.

Suddenly, Raph straightened, her collar and new nametag caught in his hand. His head swivelled to glare in disbelief at Mikey. "What. The. Fuck!"

Instantly wary, Mikey swallowed and looked at Raph to see varying emotions raging across his features. Hurt, disbelief, anger. "Whatever it is, I didn't do it, dude!"

"Liar!" Raphael spat and frightened, Leahpar bolted away from the incensed turtle and out the room. Seeing his cat's sudden terror, Mikey's expression turned hard.

"Seriously, Raph, I swear I don't know what you're so mad about! I've been sitting here for the last hour and you've been right there beside me!"

"Leahpar!" Raph snarled darkly. "Raphael! You've been fucking making fun of me for months! Ever since you got that damn cat!"

Finally realising what his other-dimensional brother was so pissed about, Mikey couldn't help but cackle in laughter. "Seriously, dude? You just realised now?"

"Wait, you mean everyone else knew?" Raph growled, shooting to his feet and with a sudden burst of fear, Mikey did too.

"Uh... some of them did?" Mikey ventured cautiously, very deliberately placing his sketchbook and pencil aside. Donnie certainly did at any rate. "But dude! It's not..." Raph lunged and with a yelp, Mikey dodged, the rest of his sentence cut off.

"Seriously, Raph, chill, dude! I promise I wasn't making fun of you!" Mikey cried, bounding back a step before clearing the pit and backpedalling to put some distance between them. Irate and face red with fury to match his mask, Raph tore after him.

"I named Leahpar for my Raphael, not you!" Mikey cried, bounding again out of reach. However, Raph didn't seem to hear or care. Just barrelled after Mikey like an out-of-control locomotive, growling threats with every step. Mikey could almost swear steam poured from his other-dimensional brother's nostrils. He truly hadn't meant to make fun of Raph but Raph was far too gone to hear him, no matter how hard he tried and this Raph was so different to his own brother. Just as quick to anger but almost no control. Under normal circumstances, Mikey knew he could take him down but with him in a Wolverine berserker rage? He seriously had doubts. At least of stopping Raph without one or both of them getting hurt.

Mikey's eyes flickered anxiously around the lair as he continued to dodge and weave, keeping just out of Raphael's reach and trying to steer clear of the Christmas tree. For a moment, he caught sight of a pair of concerned reddish orbs peeping from the lab door before the lab door closed firmly with a click. Mikey scowled, realising Donnie locked the room – not something that would stop a ninja normally but he sure as shell wouldn't have time to input the code or pick the lock with a furious Raphael on his tail.

So he ran for the dojo. Hoping Splinter and Leo would forgive the intrusion on their peace.

Mikey's mouth twisted with rueful humour. Who was he kidding? Like with Splinter's hearing and Leo's... Leoness, they'd have already been disturbed and be working to block them out from the first moment Raph yelled.

Throwing himself up the steps and through the doorway, Mikey rolled back to his feet and dodged again. "Raph, seriously! Calm down and just listen to me, dude!"

"Not a chance you fucking little shit!" Raph snarled, far too gone to mind his language near his father.

"Little?" Mikey stopped dead, staring at Raph in disbelief. "Have you looked in the mirror lately bro? I'm bigger than you!" Okay, not by much, he wasn't but still! He did have a couple inches on Raph (and Leo) and the curve of his carapace also added to his bulk in comparison to them.

His distraction proved his downfall. Raphael took full advantage, throwing himself in a vicious tackle at Michelangelo and they rolled in a tangle of punching, kicking and blocking limbs across the dojo.

And right. Into. Splinter!

Shooting to his feet, Splinter roared. "Enough!" His hands flashed out, jabbing pressure points on both squabbling turtles and they laid there, still tangled together and utterly unable to move.

'I am forevermore the turtle that is known as the turtle that is Kraangs' Puppet.'

'No!' Mikey gasped, his breathing quickening as the panic of losing control of his body again began to build. 'No!' his eyes darted around the room desperately, the sound of his breath harsh and ragged in his ears along with the pounding of his racing heart.

'I am forevermore...'

'No! I'm... I'm...'

He couldn't breathe.

'I am forevermore the turtle that is known as the turtle that is Kraangs' Puppet.'

'I'm not... I'm not there!' His gaze darted past the gaily decorated tree even as he tried desperately to focus on it and ground himself to the here and now, to calm and draw even breaths. It passed Splinter, back in a cross-legged position, a look of utter desperation on his furred face as he tried to re-enter a meditative state. 'I'm not! I'm in the...'

'I am forevermore...'

The memory abruptly cut off as Leo's concerned ocean-blue gaze filled his vision and he tried desperately to focus on him but the panic was still building and out of control and he still couldn't breathe and, 'I am...'

"It's alright, Mike, calm down," Leo soothed in a warm, quiet voice. "I'll reverse it, okay? There's no need to panic."

Leo reached out, jabbing his pressure points and reversing the paralysing effect. Mikey gasped and suddenly able to move again, scrambled upright and shot away from Leo, Raph and Splinter until he hit the wall, almost trying to climb inside of it. Leo wisely kept his distance as Mikey gasped and heaved for breath but he continued talking, trying to reassure Mike that he was fine and he was in control.

After some time, the sound of movement caught Mikey's attention and still breathing far harder than he should've, his terrified gaze shifted warily to land on Splinter who now stood, eyes closed, head hanging and looking so, so defeated.

"Are the two of you aware just what your tomfoolery has cost us?"

Mikey's breath hitched painfully in his throat as his eyes briefly flickered to Raph, who still lay unmoving in a crumpled heap. He warily returned his gaze to the ninja master, watching for any sign of attack.

"Master Splinter... Father..." Leo began hesitantly. However, he didn't get any further as Splinter held up a hand, commanding him without words to just... stop.

"I... I'm..." Mikey continued to gasp, words he never wanted to hear again still ringing overwhelmingly in his head.

"I had Michelangelo," Splinter explained desolately. "He came to me in the Astral Plane."

Leonardo straightened in sudden hope and shock. "Father? Was he... is he...?"

Mikey closed his eyes in agony. Refusing to allow the tears that threatened to fall, he shrank in on himself, still huddled firmly against the wall.

"He is alive and well and had help in the Astral Plane. However... I could not find out what happened to him or where he is because the two of you knocked me from the Astral Plane!" Splinter turned his head to face Leonardo. "Reverse the pressure points on Raphael and inform Donatello that your brother is safe and well. I am retiring for the night."

His eyes still fixed on the ninja master as he shuffled into his room like an old, defeated man, Mikey sensed movement from Leo, followed by an angry shuffling. The moment Splinter closed the shoji screen door, he turned to carefully watch the other two.

"Raph," Leo began carefully, only to be cut off.

"Just leave me the hell alone!" Raph snarled, storming off out the dojo. As he left, he immediately turned towards his room.

Leo's shoulders slumped helplessly and instead, he moved towards Mikey. "Mike? Are you okay?"

"I-I'm fine," Mikey muttered, burying his head shamefully into his arms. "Jus... g-go tell D-Donnie..."

For a moment, Leonardo didn't move but then Mikey heard him straighten. "Are you sure? I don't like leaving you alone in this state."

"H-he needs to know, Leo. I'll be fine."

"Alright, but I'll be back in a few minutes. Okay?"

Mikey didn't answer. Just curled up more tightly into himself.

-:-

A/N: kechi – Miserly/stingy

Comments, thoughts and concrit are always welcome.

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