DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN TMNT!

Chapter 5: In Travel for the Battle Nexus

Raphael parked the motorbike in the old abandoned garage and remained to fix his helmet for a long time. His hands were wet.

The rain fell down on the urban landscape, causing a constant noise.

His red helmet had a crack; Raph sighed heavily, upping the head toward the ceiling. There was silence, interrupted just from the rain.

Raphael felt very sad: he was the guilty of Mikey's damage. He couldn't stop the scream in his mind. Those blue eyes so painful. That visible sadness on that face.

What had he done?

The red turtle put his helmet on the motorbike's saddle and walked until when his feet were on the lift. The tears menaced to fall down: but he was the muscle of the family and never he would have cried...

Two doors of the lift opened and Raph closed a bit his eyes, not accustomed at the brilliant lights of the room. The lair's air was heavy of tension: the anger and the disappointment were present.

Then, he noticed someone.

Mikey was leaned near a wall, with a sad air and the arms folded up. He was so sad. His dark energy was so strong...

Raphael looked a long his little bro, waiting for receiving a fist for his stupid action but, quickly he froze.

Knocking more times his eyes, the red turtle understood to be hugged from his little brother.

Those blue eyes were happy, now and also if he couldn't speak, Raphael felt, in his mind, just a phrase.

"I missed you".

Smiling, the red gave back a hug, gripping strong Mikey at the chest. However, that happiness in those eyes disappeared when two tears fell down.

"Mikey..." Raph murmured confused.

His hand was taken in that of Mikey, leaving to lead in the kitchen...

The table showed still some dishes with food. Leo, Don and Splinter were sat, waiting for Raph for having dinner.

They had waited for him.

"Have you had fun, in topside?" Leonardo asked, calm.

Raph raised an eyebrow, confused. Why nobody had reproached him? They were so glad and normal. Something was wrong but he confined those thoughts in the most faraway part of his mind and sat himself.

Taste spaghetti with tomato were in the dish. Raph licked the lips, with hungry.

"Well... we have dinner at midnight. Funny, isn't?" Donnie giggled: "I'm hungry!".

Raph notice Mikey's dish was empty. Approaching with the head, his heart froze. His little bro had a needle in the arm, connected at a nutritious's bag.

Noticing this, the orange turtle gave to him a tender caress on his shoulder, hoping to comfort him. Raph couldn't savor the excellent taste of the dinner: the little bro was suffering.

Splinter ate the spaghetti, with his wood sticks.

Michelangelo had continued to cook also after Raphael was ran away. The dinner on the table was a demonstration of love.

"This is an excellent dinner, my son" the sensei murmured, with sweetness.

Leonardo, Donatello e Raphael nodded smiling but when Mikey had the cough again, the entire attention fell on him.

Mikey couldn't breathe and from his eyes, the tears rolled down on the cheeks. The orange turtle was gripped in the fear's vise and he tore the needle from the arm, ignoring the blood and other liquids.

Not permitting at his family of speaking, the younger ran in his room, closing the door and throwing himself on the bed. Starting to cry, his eyes closed immediately.

"I..." Donnie murmured afflicted: "I'm going to check him...".

Raphael lowered the head and looked the kitchen. Mikey had cooked for them but he had been forced to use a stupid needle.

"Mikey needs of comfort" Leonardo explained, ignoring the pain in the ankle.

"I think that the damage is more serious than we can believe" the sensei completed.

Suddenly, a Donnie's yell broke the tension in the air.

The three mutants ran immediately in Mikey's room and froze when an azure light shone on everything.

"A... portal?" Leonardo murmured, upset.

He was on Raph's shell because the crutches were been left in living room.

"Calm down, my sons. There isn't nothing to fear" the sensei ordered serious: "There are friends".

The four brother, perplexed, observed the portal, putting away their weapons.

From a blue beam five figures exited. The Hamato remained surprised when the portal closed and the flash too.

The Daymio, his young son and their assistant. Usagi and Gennosuke.

Forgetting the initial fear, Mikey was the first to show his happiness. After all, one year was passed from the last Mikey's battle on Nexus. The Champion had defeated Kluh, the son of Amag, leader of Evran's tribe.

"Your presence honours us, Daymio- Splinter smiled.

"Thank you, Splinter-san".

"Usagi-san! I'm so glad to see you again!" Leonardo said: "Why are you here, if I can ask?".

The samurai rabbit noticed the bandaged ankle but tried to not lose the smile.

"How have you got that wound at your ankle, Leonardo-san?" he asked equally.

"It's a long story" the leader replied, a bit embarrassed of all the attention on him.

When a timid silence filled up the room, the Daymio thought good to explain the real reason of their arrive.

"There's a new fight on our world. Amag and his son Kluh are escape from my exile, without I could do something for preventing it. He wants a revenge against the Champion Michelangelo".

Mikey jumped a bit for that information: he didn't want to fight with Kluh again. He had offended his family in that rematch! Not Kluh, that stupid struggler!

He opened the mouth for protesting but lowered the angry look and started to breath faster. He was so angry! Mikey would have wanted to shout that he didn't want to do it but he knew Splinter was felt disappointed.

"Why don't you say anything, Champion?" the boy of Daymio asked, caressing Leo's hand: "Aren't you glad to honor your family?".

Mikey upped the look and swallowing, nodded. Smiled.

He would have fought for himself, for Splinter and his family.

For the friends.

For the Battle Nexus.

"Very well, let's go. There will many battles to face!" the Daymio said, proud of Mikey.

The old man reopened the portal with his scepter and all together entered in that brilliant light, leaving the lair.

I haven't choices...

Mikey sighed at that thought and closed the blue eyes, leaving that his body run in that colored tunnel...