And One to Grow On ch 4

Rating: Overall story rated M for language, Raph will be Raph after all.

Disclaimer: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and all related characters belong to Nickelodeon.

Warnings: Little bit of foul language and mentions of past character death. Unbetaed.

Summary: Lost and alone in another reality, one turtle must try to find his way home. All while trying to forge a place amongst a family who lost one of their own under horrible circumstances and seemingly resents his very presence. No OC's. Set: 2k3 up until 'Good Genes'. 2k12 up until 'The Good, the Bad and Casey Jones'. Comments, thoughts and concrit is always welcome.

And One to Grow On

Ch - 4

“Tell me, Michelangelo, when was the last time you saw your brothers?”

Mikey swallowed, the brightness of his eyes suggesting the barest hint of tears. “Just over a week ago...”

Donatello cocked his head curiously, “What happened?”

Mikey sighed softly as he lowered his gaze to the grungy sewer floor and in a small voice explained.

“My bros and I were kinda all burned out from searching for mutagen cannisters every night for months and we'd recently had some bad stuff go down like when Raph's pet Spike mutated into Slash,” Mikey shuddered at the memory “and then a couple of weeks later, a bunch of Footbots followed Raph and Casey to the lair so we decided to have a bit of chill time by taking a few hours off and just having some fun...”

- . - . -

'My bros deserve this,” I think as I laugh at Raph's efforts. Things had been sucktastic lately and everyone agreed to taking a break to unwind and have fun for a couple of hours tonight and play around. And whose brilliant idea did we go with? Mine, yeah, that's whose! I suggested having a Ninja-off, kinda like a Dance-off but with cool and flashy ninja moves. Donnie had already had his turn and Raph was up now.

Sure, my second oldest bro is the strongest of us but that's sheer turtle-headed strength. When it comes to the actual moves, well, let's just say some of the rest of us actually stand a chance of taking him down. I laugh again, really, I'm up next and Raph is making this way too easy. Raph glares in my direction as he finishes up his predictably boring set. He may be good yeah, we all are but seriously he has no style.

I snicker a little too loudly, earning a rough shove up against my shoulder as Raph stalks over to us when he finishes.

“Let's see you beat that, shell for brains.” Raph taunts.

“Too easy, bro!” I grin, somehow ignoring the jostling. I may not be the best fighter on this team, in fact, I'm probably the worst but when it comes down to it, I'm the most athletic, especially when I just let myself go with the flow. In this kind of competition, I probably only have to worry about what Leo does after me in this party.

I saunter to the middle of the rooftop floor, swishing my hips mockingly in Raph's direction as both a warm up and to rub it in Raph's face that this turtle's got style. Out of the corner of my eye, I catch Donnie rolling his eyes at Raph's and my display but he too is grinning, knowing that for once, Raph wasn't gonna win.

I turn to face my bros and flash another cheeky grin Raph's way, “Ready to be shown how to moooove,” I sway my whole body tauntingly as I deliberately draw out the word, “bro?”

“Just get on with it, doofus.” Raph growls menacingly, but there's no venom in his words.

“Wait!” Leo suddenly commands, hand up in a classic Captain Ryan dramatic halt pose.

“Aw, Leo!” I whine, “I finally got my turn, why do I have...”

“Quiet! I heard something.” Leo is looking really concerned right now as he quickly but stealthily runs to the far corner of the building and looks off into the distance. The rest of us reluctantly follow him over, me picking up my skateboard and tucking it into my belt at the back of my shell on the way.

“The Kraang.” Donnie says softly, eyes widening in surprise as we watch several human disguised Kraang leaving a van and entering a building.

I shudder as I hear Raph crack his knuckles. I mean, that sound! It's just horrible and he does it deliberately, knowing just how much it sets my shell on edge. It's worse than fingernails on a blackboard. I really miss my blackboard. Can't really remember whatever happened to it... Oh yeah, Raph happened to it, I remember now. Those were the times. I smother a tiny grin at the memory of Raph's annoyance.

I turn my head to see Raph's customary smirk covering his face, you know, the one that promises hell and that he's gonna deliver it? “Great!” Raph says through the smug look, “Could really use some real action tonight.”

Leo smirks back, amused, “You're only saying that because you can't lose the competition if we don't finish it.”

“No I'm not!”

“Okay guys, we go in, silently,” he emphasises, looking at both me and Raph carefully. I give Leo a playful pout, “and see what they are doing in that warehouse. Do not draw attention. I want to know their plans before we take them down.”

About twenty minutes later, we are inside, having snuck in through the windows in the top floor and trying to find a good spot to spy on them from while also being able to overhear the nasty little alien brain blobs. I realise the sound doesn't carry too well in this place so I shuffle along the beam I'm on but I don't notice this piece of broken ceiling resting precariously on the beam until my hand brushes lightly against it. I realise too late and try desperately to catch it before the noise gives us away. Breathing a sigh of relief, I manage to quickly latch onto it before it's out of reach and stop it from clattering to the ground making for some angry bros.

Uh oh... I guess my sigh was louder than I thought, 'cause suddenly Kraang droids are staring up at me.

“It is the ones that are known as Turtles that are in this place where the ones known as Turtles are not meant to be!”

“Kraang, exterminate the ones known as Turtles that are in this place the ones known as Turtles are not meant to be.”

Sometimes, I really think it's a good thing the Kraang are so long-winded. I mean, it sure gives us plenty of warning to haul our shells but it's pretty bad when it gives even me a headache listening to them butchering the English language.

I ignore the irritated and furious glares of my bros as I hurriedly throw myself to the next beam over and swing down from beam to floor to avoid being shot by their blasters. Uhh.. I guess maybe jumping to the ground the way I did wasn't exactly one of my brighter moves as suddenly find myself completely surrounded with no where to go. Gulping, I realise even more Kraang are entering the floor. As they shoot at me, I dodge and weave, duck and roll, bounce and spring about, trying to dodge their blaster fire. At least half of the evil blobby aliens are focused on me but I just can't get near them to take them out. I can't even convert a 'chuck to a kusarigama or I'd be left too way open to their fire. In all my bouncing about like Cubbi, I'm happy to see that at least my bros are fine and still together. Sadly though, there are just too many Kraang in between us. We just can't get to each other, though, from the look on his face, Leo's got a plan! Too bad I don't know what it is and that I'm too far away to find out.

Desperately, I look around, spinning a 'chuck and taking out a nearby Kraang. Smiling, I spot a door not too far away and with only a couple of Kraang in the way. Maybe I can lead some of these blob 'droids through there.

I grin as I switch to my kusarigama, swinging the chained weapon wide to knock several blasters out of the Kraang's hands, uh tentacles? Suckered clutches? Heh! Whatever. Specifically the ones near that door. Quickly taking the chance, I run for it! Good thing I'm so fast. Gotta remember to thank Raph later; if he didn't keep chasing me and trying to pound my shell after I annoy him, I probably wouldn't be nearly as fast as I am. “Nyer nyer!” I tease as I rush by the Kraang 'droids. After making it through the door, I slam it shut behind me, breathing deeply as I lean my shell against it to regain my breath. A moment later, I look around the room, my eyes widening in absolute horror!

I'm trapped!

Seriously! There is no way out of this room other than the door I just came in through. I look wildly around the small room. The only thing in here to even hide behind is some computer console thingamie.

I feel someone, or more likely something, trying to open the door behind me.

I'm so soup!

Doing the only thing I can do, I run over to the console thingamie, grabbing onto the edge to help me turn the corner of it faster and hunker down behind it; fingers accidentally brushing controls as I lower myself down. I try to steady my breathing. It sounds like only two of them followed me into this room, not sure at this point if that is a good or a bad thing. They are making all sorts of clicking, whirring computery noises as they approach the console thingamie I am ducked behind. Or should that be turtled behind? I grin to myself for just a moment before remembering the trouble I had gotten myself into and sobering. Realising there is a gap between the bottom of the panel and the ground, I peek cautiously through at the Kraang from underneath, watching with bated breath and finally sighing with relief as the stupid Kraang both walk around the same side of the bulky hunk of metal and plastic. Really, it's all I can do not to snicker at their stupidity. For giant brains, they sure are dumb.

I creep around the opposite side from them carefully, I'm gonna have to take the chance of getting back out to the main room. If I don't... I swallow, not wanting to even think about it.

Quickly glancing back to the two Kraang 'droids, I notice their attention is completely focused on the control panel. Heh! And my bros think I get distracted too easily! These Kraang are way worse than me. I grin and run for the closed door, hoping to get through it before they can shoot me. I don't even dare to look back again as I run through and slam the door behind me.

I stop moving, cocking my head in confusion... I felt something odd as I passed through the doorway, almost like that time when I was younger and got a mild electric shock. I close my eyes to block distractions as I think back. This feeling was kinda the same but less...

Suddenly I remember I'm still in a battle and my eyes fly open in panic, thinking first thing I would see would be a blaster bolt about to hit my face. In relief, I don't see anything, then I wonder why no one has noticed me and starting to shoot at me again.

Then I wonder why it's so quiet...

I stare around bemused. There's no one here.

No one!

No Kraang...

No bros...

There isn't even any lights on!

This place was lit up like one of those Christmas trees you see on TV all the time and now it's dark! The only light coming in is from the almost full moon...

For a moment I wonder if Donnie got to the lights but...

There's really no one here...

“Bros?” I call, wondering where everyone went. It's like a surprise party but in reverse. I swallow. I really don't like this. My bros would never just leave me...

“Leo?... Raph?.... D... Donnie?” I call again. There's still no answer. I start to worry. “If this is revenge for that prank I pulled earlier today, it's not funny you guys!”

I step further away from the door and look around, continuing to call for my brothers the whole time. Then I realise... there's no scorch marks from all that laser fire! There's also dust and debris everywhere. This place was mostly clean and empty earlier, except for the ceiling beams and the Kraang's equipment.

I look back at the door to that room I was in not long ago and swallow nervously. I gotta chance going through there again, even if it means being stuck in a room with two bloodthirsty, evil, alien blobs. I can take them out anyway, if I'm fast. I creep back to the door cautiously and stand to the side of it. Then I hesitantly reach over to the handle, turn it slowly, quietly and swing the door open as I suddenly jump into the room yelling “Booyakasha!”.

Eyes wide with shock, I stare about the dark, empty room and whimper. What's going on? “Where is everyone?” After a few minutes of stunned staring, I slink back out the room again and begin to search the entire building. Maybe I somehow just ended up on the wrong floor? But no... the building is completely empty, falling apart and abandoned. It definitely wasn't like this when my bros and I first got here.

Peering around, I just can't believe what I'm seeing so I rub my eyes. Then I remember my T-phone and pull it out. I breath a sigh of relief as it turns on and try calling Donnie...

My T-phone doesn't even ring out, it's just dead quiet. I shake it and hit it, then try to call Leo, then Raph. My phone just keeps making that dead sound. I even try April and the Cheese Phone.

There's no signal... There's just nothing....

Suddenly I'm really, really scared.

- . - . -

Mikey stopped talking, the hurt and fear over his situation fresh and raw. Leo stood there watching the orange masked stranger who in many ways reminded him of his own lost brother and felt a pang of sympathy for the young turtle. At some point during Michelangelo's story, Leonardo had sheathed one of his katana and while he still held the other, he had let it droop so it was pointing at the ground.

Leo glanced back at Raph, seeing the hothead was still glaring angrily in Michelangelo's direction but if he didn't know better, he might have believed he could see a small hint of compassion within his furious golden eyes. Leo snorted to himself, right!

Leonardo turned his attention back in front of him to where Michelangelo and Donnie were, seeing his younger brother give the other turtle a silent but sympathetic nod.

Michelangelo blinked back tears, refusing to let them fall in front of the turtles who had him literally against the wall. After a few moments of silence, Mikey, leaning with his shell against the grimy bricks of the old sewer passage, slid slowly down the wall till he was in a seated position. He slowly pulled his knees to his plastron, crossing his arms over them and resting his chin forlornly on them.

A few seconds later, “Go on,” Leo prodded gently. “That was just over a week ago. What happened then?”

Mikey sighed, what happened next was the worst...

- . - . -

I stood in the middle of that warehouse for what must have been hours. I wasn't even aware of the time passing until I suddenly notice it's getting lighter. The sun is starting to rise and I panic. Sure, this place seems abandoned but that doesn't mean that no one definitely won't come here, besides, I don't wanna stay in this horrible place... I calm myself down and sneak out, careful to watch and listen out for any wandering early risers as I look for the nearest sewer entrance. When I finally find one, I have to hide from a couple of early morning dog walkers but I finally get a chance and quickly make my way to... safety...

After I work out where I actually am and how to get home from here, I trudge tiredly through the sewers. A couple of times I need to stash myself in the shadows of the piping above me to avoid being seen by sewer workers but luckily they pass by quickly. A few hours later, I reach the abandoned subway station where my home is meant to be.

Where my bros and Master Splinter should be.

I look around, it's dark and dingy. There's no welcoming warmth and light like I normally expect when coming home. The only sign of life is from a bunch of cobwebs and a few of Raph's favourite roachy friends. Completely numb, I wander slowly through the lair. There are no doors on any of our rooms. The only things around is dirt and rubbish that looks like it has washed in from past flooding. Still hoping, though not really believing, that this is just some horrible revenge prank, I hesitantly look into the rooms of my bros, saving my own room for last.

My breath hitches in my chest. It hurts so much seeing everything so dirty and empty.

It looks like my family has never even been here.

“Where are they?” I whimper, lost.

Stifling a cry, I slowly wander into the dojo or rather, where the dojo should have been. There was actually light in here. I look up curiously. The grate in the ceiling that's always been there is still there, filtering in a small patch of sunlight but it's not 'diffused' as Donnie would say. I walk over and squint up into the light, wondering why it's so different when I realise the mirrors that Donnie set up years ago to reflect and redirect the light, making it seem more than it really is aren't there either.

I look around the room sadly; the room that's the heart and soul of our lives. I've never felt so empty and alone in my life. I don't know what's going on and I've never missed my family as much as I do right now. Sobbing with loneliness, I drop down to the ground under that small patch of sunlight and cry till I fall asleep.

The sunlight is gone completely when I wake up hours later. I'm cold and hungry and I realise that even though I'm alone now, I need to go topside to find food and hopefully answers...

- . - . -

Mikey finally lifted his chin off his knees and looked up at Leo and Donnie, “and I've been going up for food every night since and taking out a few creeps while I'm at it. At least doing that there was someone to talk to. Kinda.” He took a shuddering breath and suddenly canted his head curiously, “Weird thing though, the Purple Dragons seem to have been multiplying like cockroaches all of a sudden.”

The other three turtles were silent, all of them considering Michelangelo's story in their own ways.

After a few minutes of uncomfortable silence, Leonardo suddenly sheathed his other katana. There was no threat here, he was certain of it, even if he didn't really know what to make of it all. All he knew was that he felt Michelangelo was telling them the truth, at least as far as the young turtle knew it. He looked to his nearby brother. “Any ideas, Don?”

Donnie took a deep breath and straightened back up to a standing position. “It seems to me that Michelangelo here is most likely from a parallel dimension; one in which many things are similar but also very different.” He paced around the immediate area thoughtfully. “Whatever portal or dimensional crack that brought him here though, well, I don't know of anyone with technology like that. It just doesn't exist here that I know of.”

Leonardo stared down at the obviously miserable Michelangelo sympathetically. “So, he's stuck here then, is he?”

Donatello nodded in confirmation, “For now, yes.”

Turning on his heels, Leo walked over and picked up the fallen nunchaku and tossed aside kusarigama. He contemplated both weapons for a moment before walking back to hand them over to a surprised Michelangelo.

Raphael made a noise of absolute disgust and glared daggers at Leo from where he still stood, leaning against the wall. Leonardo ignored his volatile brother.

Mikey gave Leo a grateful smile as he took the proffered weapons. “Thanks, dude.” Mikey stood up, slipping the nunchaku back into its holster and converted the kusarigama back into his second 'chuck before holstering that also.

Leonardo's eyes widened slightly in wonder. “Interesting weapon,” he commented. He had wondered where Michelangelo had pulled it from earlier.

Mikey's smile faded and he sighed again, fingering the holstered weapons as if seeking comfort. Meeting these three and hearing Donatello's theory had explained much. He really was alone, though at the same time, in a weird way, he wasn't. It would have hurt his head to think about it if it wasn't for all his comics and sci-fi. He wondered briefly if his bros even knew what happened to him. He wasn't home and he might never be able to find home, not without some serious help anyway.

And while these three strange looking and strange sounding turtles were actually his brothers in some bizarre way, they had no obligation to him and now that they had sated their curiosity about him, there was absolutely nothing to stop them from just leaving him to be alone.

Again...

- . - . -

To be continued.