"Gettin' anything on your tracker, LH?" Slash asks as we race down another tunnel. Leatherhead glares down at his phone, using a tracking app that Donnie created for emergencies like this.

"Nothing more than what I have already said. Our friends signatures just keeps appearing and disappearing." Leatherhead's eye ridges furrow. "It is almost like something is interfering with their signals so that when they move it appears as though they are teleporting around."

My stomach sinks at my large friend's words. Teleporting? Like I did? Maybe Rockwell can now teleport? I mean he is a psychic monkey after all. I glance over at Leatherhead.

"Are they actually teleporting?"

Leatherhead shakes his head, grunting as we take a corner a little sharper than it can allow with three decently sized mutants trying NOT to step in the gross sewer water.

"No. Whenever Dr. Rockwell's and Muckman's signatures vanish, I briefly pick up some very strong signatures. But my device is not capable of telling me just what these signatures mean. All I can see is that they are giving off a high volume of energy, which could be the reason why I am having such difficulties in keeping a read on our friends." Leatherhead's eyes narrow just as Slash stumbles and curses. "They are at least staying within this single vicinity, but I cannot figure out why they keep moving around and not leaving."

I bite my lip as Slash growls.

"It's probably 'cause they've been attacked and need our help."

My stomach flips as I remain silent. Something about all of this just doesn't feel right. But I know it isn't the U.P., my chest hasn't pulsed once like it did earlier. But if it isn't U.P., then who is it?

"Everything all right, kiddo?"

Jumping, I glance up at Slash as we round another corner. The larger terrapin is glancing down at me sideways, his green eyes concerned as we rush to our friends' aid. Uncertain, I flash him a grin.

"Yeah, of course. I'm just worried about Rockwell and Muckman, ya know?" I turn my focus forward as I leap over some broken bricks. "We've had so many different visitors down here that who knows who might be with them. But I also know that Rockwell and Muckman are tough dudes, so I know they'll be okay until we get there."

Slash's eyes narrow behind his mask, his jaw working as if he wants to comment but doesn't know what to say. I mentally wince but am quickly saved by Leatherhead growling.

"This way, my friends. They are very close."

My heart pounds in my chest as the sounds of explosions rings out down the tunnel. Slash growls mix with Leatherhead's and the two larger reptiles increase their pace and I have to stretch my stride to just keep pace with them, my body still feeling the wariness from my fight with Rahzar and Fishface. Taking another right, the three of us enter a large room, an intersection of some sort. Donnie would know the word that I'm looking for… I quickly shake my head and focus on the situation at hand.

My eyes instantly land on the forms of Rockwell and Muckman as they move around the surprisingly lit room. Rockwell is levitating some broken bricks and flinging them at his opponent, some strangely familiar robots. Muckman, on the other hand, is chucking some pieces of metal at the robots, pieces I'm sure came from the other destroyed robots littered all around their feet. My heart drops to my stomach when I spot the destroyed robot parts and just how sluggish my other two friends appear to be.

"How long have they been fighting?" I wonder aloud, pulling out my nunchakus and start spinning them.

Slash snarls.

"Don't matta'. We're here now and can equal da odds."

Leatherhead nods, putting his cell away, and crouches low. The three of us nod and we sprint forward.

"COWABUNGA!" I shout as I leap over Rockwell, smacking the robot's face away from the once-human scientist. My eyes narrow as the large being of metal staggers backward as I finally recognize where I've seen these robots from. "What are Stock-boy's robos doing down here? I thought we got rid of all these?"

Rockwell huffs behind me before moving to stand next to me, flinging a piece of debris at the other giant Mouser.

"Apparently not," he says, dryly. "Garson and I have been fighting these things for the last 10 minutes. I am just pleased that Leatherhead was nearby to hear the distress signal."

I chance a quick glance at the scientist, my eyes raking over him. A small sense of relief hits me when, outside of looking a little tired and rattled, the scientist appears to be largely unharmed. Rockwell lifts an eyebrow at me when he catches my glance. Grinning, I wink at him.

"Don't worry, dude. All of us will always have your back. I'm just glad I'm not the one finding trouble this time."

That pulls a small smile from the once-human before he tries to cover it with an unamused snort.

"Yes, well, I think we can all agree that no matter who gets into a situation like this, you will always hold the record for trouble-making, Michelangelo. Intentional or not."

Laughing, I spin to the side as Rockwell steps to the side, the two of us just missing some large chunks of brick being kicked at us. Faking a pout, I eye the large robot, trying to find an opening.

"Awe, c'mon, doc! You're starting to sound like my bros. I don't always find trouble! Most of the time it finds me!"

Not giving Rockwell a chance to respond, I launch myself forward, flipping up and landing on the closest Mouser's head. Once I land, I swiftly change my right nunchaku into kusarigama and slam the blade into the Mouser's head just as it starts to swing its head back and forth. Whooping, I allow myself to drop and swing around the Mouser's head with my chain. Once the chain is short enough, I land on the side of the Mouser's head and pull. The Mouser, already off-balance from trying to dislodge me, stumbles and lurches to the left. I wait until the last second to drop just as the two giant robots collide. I flip backward as they ram into the wall, causing more debris to fall from the ceiling, mostly crushing the two robots. I twirl my right nunchaku as they twitch before just they just stop moving. Grinning, I rush forward, dislodging my kusarigama from the mess.

"Michelangelo! Heads up!"

My head snaps up at Rockwell's cry just as a shadow falls over me. Jumping to my feet, I spin around just in time to find a third large Mouser standing over me. It's mouth falls open and a bright light builds up as a low whine emits from the robot.

"Oh, sewer apples," I say, gulping as I scramble to the side. A large blast of light slams into the area I just occupied, nearly causing me to stumble from the force exploding behind me. I manage to dodge another blast that slams into the opposite wall, tripping over some discarded limbs from smaller Mousers. A wince escapes me as I land hard on the ground, my body deciding this is the perfect time to remind me of the past few days.

"Shell, that hurt," I grumble, rolling to my knees, rubbing my shoulder. "I thought I got past my clumsy stage."

"MIKEY!"

My eyes snap open at Slash's terrified tone and I glance over my shoulder. My mouth dries as I stare directly into the open maw of the Mouser, a bright white light building as it prepares to shoot me. I turn my head to look at Slash as he and Leatherhead rush toward me. Flashes of Raph and Donnie rush through my mind, the two reptiles reminding me so much of my middle older brothers. Brothers that I just argued with. Brothers that I know only have my best interests in mind. Brothers that will be devastated if I don't come home. Brothers that I try desperately not to disappoint.

"And you're not gonna make me start now, tin can," I grumble, pushing myself to my feet. Glaring at the large robot, I press my hand to my chest. "C'mon chi or whatever. I could really use a shield thing right now."

A familiar spark warms my chest and I grin. It rushes down my limbs just as the Mouser fires. Closing my eyes, I channel the warmth until it spreads throughout my entire body. Lifting my hand, I shove at the warmth instinctually, pushing it from my body. My heart hammers in my chest and after a beat, I open my eyes. A startled laugh escapes me as I spot the beautiful orange-gold of my chi-shield surrounding me once more, keeping the Mouser's laser beam at bay as it tries to zap me from existence.

The entire scenario doesn't take very long but there is just something about death-defying scenarios that seem to drag on forever. I know Donnie has mentioned why more than once but at the moment I'm just so glad that I saved my brothers' from a horrible heartache that I can barely think straight.

The light finally dies down and I square my shoulders as I glare down the Mouser. I distantly hear gasps off to the side, but I ignore them as I drop my shield, grinning not all that kindly as adrenaline courses through me.

"Thanks for the show, overgrown can opener. But I think it's my turn to play."

Leaning back, I throw my nunchaku directly above the Mouser's head. And just like on the roof, I'm engulfed by warmth and my vision goes white, but this time I'm prepared. I'm not sure why, but it just feels right as my body just snaps forward and I'm suddenly suspended directly above the Mouser's head. Snapping my hand out, I grasp my thrown nunchaku and extend it out into my kusarigama. Twirling the bladed end until it's a blur of orange-gold, I chuck it straight down, feeling a rush of warmth shoot down my arm into the chain as it descends.

The Mouser barely has time to lift its head as a large blast of what I'm sure is my chi mixed with the kusarigama's blade slams into its head. The crunch of metal echoes around the room, the head of the Mouser splitting and crumbling down into itself before the rest of the body falls to the side.

"Booyakasha!" I shout, fisting pumping before I suddenly feel the effects of gravity on me. My eyes widen. "Uh oh."

Air catches in my throat as I start to fall, my vision blurring as the ground rushes toward me. Oh, I didn't really think this through, did I? But is that really surprising? That's Leo's department.

Squeezing my eyes shut, I brace myself for impact when warm arms surround me and pull me against a hard but warm plastron. Opening my eyes, I glance up.

"Thanks, Sla-," I start only for my words to catch as burning amber eyes framed by red glare down at me. "R-Raphie?!"

My second oldest brother doesn't respond except to growl. The two of us land easily and I realize that I can hear the sounds of my other two brothers fighting the remaining robots. I stay where I am my brother's arms, his muscles flexing as he stands. A lump forms in my throat as Raph straightens but when he doesn't move to put me down, I know I'm in trouble.

"R-Raph?"

He doesn't even blink as he turns toward where the others are taking down the last two robots. Slash throws Leo up before slamming his mace into the Mouser's knee as Leo spins and jams both of his katanas down into robotic eyes. Donnie produces a blade at the end of his bo and stabs it into the Mouser's other leg as Leatherhead latches onto the robot. Muckman and Rockwell levitate some of metal and slamming it into the Mouser's head as Leo leaps backward.

Panic rises in my chest as Raph continues moving, heading for the entrances back into the tunnels. Raph NEVER willingly leaves a fight! Why isn't he going to help the others?

"Raph? Raph, where are we going?" I ask, my voice raising an octave the further away we get from the sounds of fighting. "Wait, Raph. We can't just—"

"Shut it, Mike."

My mouth snaps shut as Raph calmly speaks. Whoa. Okay. There's no way that this is my hotheaded brother. MY Raph would be shouting at me. Scolding me. Smacking me over the head for getting into trouble again. Raph NEVER talks to me this calmly. EVER.

Oh, oh, sewer apples and the great Silver Sentry. What if we're leaving so that Raph can just murder me in secret for getting into trouble again?! My hand flies to my chest as I try to control my breathing as we finally enter the tunnel way. I curl into myself as Raph starts to slow. A puff of warm air hits my head as Raph sighs.

"Geez, Mike, calm down. Yer actin' like I'm 'bout ta murder ya or somethin'."

Peering up at my big brother, I fidget in his arms and fiddle with my fingers.

"You're not, are you?"

Raph rolls his eyes but finally glances down at me since leaving the room.

"No, knucklehead, I ain't gonna kill ya." A smirk morphs on Raph's face. "Nah, I'm gonna leave dat fer Leo."

The blood drains from my face as Raph tilts and places my feet on the ground. He keeps a hold of my shoulders as I sway and stares down at me. His amber eyes flicker up and down, searching for any new injuries. I shuffle in place and drop my gaze to my feet. Raph lifts an eye ridge.

"Wanna tell me yer version before Leo comes stormin' out here and just throws ya over his shoulder and brings ya back ta da lair?"

"I really was just skating, ya know," I mumble. "I just happened to run into LH and Slash and we were hanging out at their place when their new alarm system went off. LH said that Rockwell was the only one who could activate it and so we went to go check it out." I shrug as Raph's jaw works but I'm surprised that he's actually letting me just talk. "We didn't really know that they were in trouble, but we all felt like something wasn't right, so LH tracked them here and our feeling was right. The doc said that they weren't fighting for very long, only like 10 minutes or so, but we know how much damage Stocky-boy's Mousers can cause, especially those big ones."

"And ya almost gettin' blasted?"

My head snaps up at Raph's rough tone, eyes wide. My knees turn to jelly as my stomach hits my feet.

"Y-Y-You guys saw that?"

Raph's eyes narrow and a snarl appears on his face.

"A-fuckin' course we saw it! Leo was drivin' Don and I crazy wit his pacin' and his constant sayin' dat somethin' wasn't right, so Don cracked and agreed ta just track yer cell since he didn't think dat ya would answer us if we called ya."

I flinch at Raph's accusatory tone, scrunching my snout. Well, he isn't wrong. I probably wouldn't have answered right away. Maybe if they would have tried like 3 times, on the third try I would have, but I just wanted to have some time to myself! I've just been grounded to the lair for who knows how long! Can't I just take a few hours to myself?

A heavy sigh brings my attention back to my red-cladded brother. Raph places a warm hand on my shoulder.

"Look, I get it, 'kay? Ya just wanted some time ta yerself, but ya also gotta think 'bout it from our perspective, 'kay?" Raph moves his hand to my cheek, keeping my head up so that we can make eye contact. "We already had da scare of Leo gettin' kidnapped a few months ago by does freaky ancient warrior things. Den ya go and get yerself kidnapped by a similar weirdo, but unlike when we found Leo, who was out cold, we—" Raph's words catch and he drags in a deep breath, holding it before releasing it slowly, eyes closing.

Wow. Sensei's and Leo's anger management lessons are really paying off right now, I think as I watch my brother struggle to keep his emotions in check. Which, for Raph, takes A LOT of effort. Large green fingers twitch on my cheek as Raph's eyes open once more. My throat constricts at the emotion swirling in my big brother's eyes.

"Raph?" I whisper and he purses his lips.

"When we found dat buildin' dat ya were in, we climbed ta da roof just as ya started screamin' and we could see dis bright light comin' from inside. We thought—I thought—" Raph swallows thickly. "We thought dat ya were bein' tortured or worse. And I feared dat when we got inside—" Raph trails off for a moment, reaching up to hold my face with both hands as he breathes through his nose harshly. "I was afraid dat by da time we got inside dat we'd had been too late. 'Cause ya just abruptly stopped and the light vanished and I don't wanna think 'bout what we woulda done if we had been too late. What I woulda done if we hadn't made it ta ya in time."

My eyes widen and my mouth falls open. I mean, I knew that my brothers were scared for me. But, I guess, it just hits differently when it's my usually tough exterior brother freely admitting to being scared. If RAPH is willing to admit this to me, then I know it's bad.

Burning tears form behind my eyes as I launch myself forward and tightly hug Raph. I bury my face in his shoulder as he returns the hug and presses his cheek to the top of my head.

"I'm sorry," I say, voice muffled as I fight to keep my tears at bay. "I know that you guys are just lookin' out for me. I just… I hate…I can't HELP you guys when I'm in the lair. I can't make sure that none of you get hurt when I'm not with you."

Raph huffs out a weak laugh against my head, his cheek rubbing as he shakes his head.

"Mikey, I get it, okay? I think of everyone, I understand da best. I get like dat every time I'm forced ta stay behind when I get hurt or sick and Don won't let me join on patrols. But, baby bro I can promise ya, we will always come back ta ya. I'll make sure of it, okay?"

My arms tighten around Raph's middle, my hands just barely touching due to my brother's shell. I press my face harder against his shoulder.

"You promise?"

"We all do."

Jumping, I turn and glance back at Leo and Donnie as they approach us. Donnie presses a hand to my shoulder as Leo cups my face.

"We know that this is hard, Otōto," Leo says softly, his thumb brushing at my cheek. "But we need answers and right now, to get those answers, we need you safe down here. The Kyūkyoku no purotekutā has found you twice now and this second time we have no idea why."

"Or what exactly this Ultimate Protector wants to do with you," Donnie adds, rubbing soothing circles on my shoulder. "You've said that he keeps telling you that he wants to protect you, but from what? And how does he plan to do that? Because if it means us never seeing you again, then we have a major issue."

Raph squeezes me.

"Yer not a delicate flower, Mike, and we know dat. But we're in somethin' that we don't understand and all we've seen so far is that walkin' statue takin' ya and hurtin' ya. And like hell are we just gonna stand by and let it happen again."

My eyes flicker between my brothers before landing on Leo as his thumb moves again. His brown eyes are dark with emotions, but I only get a second to try and identify them when Leo closes his eyes and presses our foreheads together.

"And Chichi is just as worried, Otōto. He doesn't like the energy he's been feeling while meditating. Or the fact that this energy that's been pointing directly at you for months. He's been hoping that this would resolve itself but with the Ultimate Protector coming here and appointing you as the Ultimate Weapon, it's terrifying him. It's terrifying US."

My eye ridges furrow.

"I…I didn't know he's been sensing that."

Leo rubs our foreheads together gently and leans back.

"He only just told me before we came to find you." Leo smiles grimly at me. "I tried meditating with him when you left but I just couldn't focus, and I noticed that he couldn't either. That's when he admitted to feeling that energy being directed toward you. He wouldn't tell me more, whether or not it's because he doesn't know or he just doesn't want to tell me, I don't know. But it was enough that I couldn't sit still."

My lips quirk.

"Raphie said that you were pacing a hole into the floor."

Leo rolls his eyes, shaking his head but his tiny smile remains.

"I wasn't wearing a hole in the floor. I didn't pace for THAT long."

I bite my lip when Raph and Donnie both stare at our big brother. Leo narrows his eyes.

"I wasn't!"

Raph snorts and Donnie coughs, remaining silent.

"Keep tellin' yerself dat, Fearless."

Leo opens his mouth only for a cough from the side to cut him off. Heat rushes to my cheeks as I spot the four Mutanimals watching us from the room's doorway. Rockwell, realizing that he's got our attention, steps closer, a deep frown on his face.

"What is this about Michelangelo getting' kidnapped?" Dr. Rockwell asks, his brown eyes flicker toward me, causing me to drop my gaze, shuffling. "Would this have something to do with that golden dome that surrounded him when that Mouser attempted to eradicate him?"

Flinching, I press against Raph, not really in the mood to talk about this anymore. I frown when I suddenly notice a strange weariness fall over me now that all the adrenaline and panic has worn off.

Man, am I seriously crashing right now? I press myself closer to Raph. Well, I guess it is probably close to 2 in the morning or something. And this was the second fight of the night, but I felt fine up until now.

Leo sighs and drops his hands from my face as he turns to fill in our friends about the situation. Donnie moves as well, catching Leo on the arm. Not really caring about what is going on after that, I close my eyes and just listen.

"I think we should maybe explain either at the lair or at the station."

I peek an eye open when silence follows Donnie's request only to squawk and squeal when Raph scoops me up once more. Wrapping my arms around his neck, I shoot my brother an unimpressed glare as he smirks at me.

"C'mon, squirt, yer 'bout ta fall asleep on yer feet and I think our friends deserve some answers."

A yawn startles me when I go to respond, and I shake my head, rubbing my eyes.

"L-Lair or *yawn* the station?" I ask, covering my mouth as I just lean against my brother's plastron. Hey, he might not have warned me before sweeping me off my feet but if it means I get a free ride without being dumped onto the floor, I'm gonna take it.

"Lair," Raph states as we start walking, Donnie and Leo murmuring in front of us to our friends. "Sensei is probably worried when we just rushed outta da lair without sayin nothin' and it's closer."

Humming, I blink lethargically at the passing walls.

"And April?"

"Left ta meet up wit Casey. He managed to grab da BattleShell and dey'll drop it off tomorrow."

Nodding, I rub my cheek against Raph's shoulder and finally allow my eyes to close once more.

"Ya okay, kiddo?"

"Mmm, hmm. 'ust sleepy."

My cheek vibrates as Raph chuckles.

"Well, it's yer lucky day den. Fer one day only, I'm givin' free rides, so just relax and we'll be in da lair before ya know it."

Giggling, I burrow closer to my big brother, muttering to him about my skateboard being at the station, only receiving a snort in response before being told to just fall asleep already. Smiling, I go limp and allow the comforting presence of my big brother to lull me to sleep.

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Edit: fixed a few minor errors that I missed before uploading 😊

Hello everyone! Long time, no see! Sorry for such a long wait, I went from working 13 hours a week to working 31 hours and the day I normally wrote my chapters was taken up by work. And with my only two days off being taken up by 4-hour long D&D sessions, I just couldn't find the mental power to write.

Until now that is 😊.

I also want to thank everyone for the reviews on here and AO3. They have been the fuel burning the fire within me to finally sit down and finish this chapter and I really appreciate it. I really, REALLY want to finish this fanfic because I have an end goal, I just need to keep the motivation to get all of us there. And all of your comments have been helping me with that. So, thank you.

I also want to add, I won't take more than 2 weeks to do an update. I don't really have a way to be able to let all of you know that I will post without adding an author note chapter and I just don't want to have one of those. I want the story to flow without me interrupting it with a note from me. So, just know that I won't take longer than 14 days to add an update. I know that this wait was very long and I don't want it to go past this amount of time for an update ever again. So, thank you all for being patient with me and continuing to read my story. I really appreciate it and all of you 😊.