"Owowow!" Mikey cried as once again, Donatello tried to place the ice pack on his arm.

"C'mon Mikey it's not that bad," Don said rolling his eyes. The purple turtle was quickly becoming irritated.

"But it hurts so bad dude," Mikey said eyes watering. He knew Donnie hated it when he whined but his arm did hurt.

"Mikey, it's just a bruise," Don sighed. "It probably won't even last more than a week."

"I bruise like a peach Don," Mikey sniffled.

"Ugh fine!" Donnie said throwing the melting ice pack at Mikey. "Then ice your own bruises."

Muttering to himself, Donnie stalked out of his lab joining the two older turtles in their living room.

Mikey pouted as he gingerly set the cold ice against his arm. The bruise was already starting to change color.

It had happened during sparring. Raph got paired with Leo as usual, and Donnie was paired with Mikey. Things had been going fine, with Mikey dancing around his purple brother, dodging his attacks and taunting the genius.

"Guess the only muscle you have is that brain of yours Einstein wannabe," the orange turtle giggled. That is until Donnie's staff had connected solidly with his arm.

Yelping, Mikey lost focus and was quickly pinned beneath the older turtle. Master Splinter had simply shaken his head as once again, the young turtle had let the pain cloud his mind in battle.

How many times had they been over this? As a ninja, there was no mercy in battle. Your opponent will not hesitate if you are injured. If anything they will exploit it. Sighing, Splinter had brought their training to an end, dismissing his sons. He would reprimand Michelangelo later.

The boys left the dojo, Mikey still whining about his injury. Leo had good naturedly commiserated, while Don had offered to care for his baby brother's arm. Raphael however, had had enough.

As Donnie had ushered Mikey into his lab. Raph whirled on Leo growling.

"How many times are we gunna coddle tha wuss?!" he yelled angrily.

Leo glared at the hot head. "He was hurt."

"He's ALWAYS gettin' hurt!" Raph fumed. "And it ain't even that bad! I mean c'mon Leo, a bruise and his focus goes to shell!"

Leo sighed. He knew Raph was right. Mikey had always struggled to focus in almost anything he did. Being distracted by something as minor as a bruise wasn't very ninja-like.

His head turned as a frustrated Donatello stomped into the living room.

"He's icing his own arm," Donnie said scowling as he plopped down on the kitchen barstool.

"I thought you were helping him?" Leo asked questioningly.

"He was complaining so much about his arm you'd think someone had cut it off," Donnie said with a snort. "Imagine if someone actually hit him."

"My point exactly Leo," Raph said, his anger heating up once again. "What happens when we're all topside? He's gonna get us all killed!"

Back in the lab, Mikey winced. Raph's words cut deep. Slowly lowering the now melted ice pack, Mikey looked up where his brother's voices were coming from. Was Raph right? Did his reaction to pain cause his family to be in danger? Would he really get them killed?

"Tha kid's gotta be tougher if he wants ta protect this family!" Raph yelled. "And if I have ta beat it inta him then so be it!"

Mikey cringed as he heard Raph's heavy feet come closer. Shaking, he brought his fists up to defend himself from his hothead brother's attack. He hated fighting, especially when the Raph was in one of his rages.

All too soon, the red turtle's hulking frame hung in the lab's doorway.

"You. Me. Dojo. NOW!" Raph yelled.

Mikey's eyes went wide. Rather than pouncing on him, Raph had held off to make the demand. Confused and more than a little wary, Mikey sheepishly followed the red turtle into the dojo.

Raph whirled around, his eyes flashing with angry determination. One way or another his baby brother was going to learn. He had to be tough. Without a word Raph pulled his sai from his belt, spinning the weapons deftly in his three-fingered hands. There was only one way to get tough, and he was going to make sure Mikey was the toughest mother out there. Well…after himself of course.

Mikey watched his older brother with apprehension. Leo hadn't come to his rescue this time, and Don was still irritated from his earlier whining. For once Raph had got his way and the thought terrified Mikey. As the red-masked ninja had pulled out his weapons, Mikey squeaked. Was Raph really going to spar with him?

"Come on ya wuss," Raph growled. "We ain't leavin' here 'till ya get it through ya thick skull. If ya wanna be a ninja an' protect this family, ya gotta be TOUGH!"

With the last word Raph rushed Mikey crouching low and striking out with the hilt of his sai. Mikey barely had enough time to draw his nunchakus from his belt, stumbling backwards from the fierce attack. Again Raph lunged forward this time slashing his sai up towards the orange turtle's chin. Again Mikey tried to dodge, but felt a sharp prick as the sai nicked his jawline.

"Ah! Raph!" he cried indignantly.

This was just a sparring session. Why was his brother going so hard at this? The red turtle didn't respond, instead sweeping his leg low, cutting Mikey's legs from under him. Mind racing Mikey stuck out a hand, vaulting out of his one handed back-spring only to find Raph again pressing forward with a snarl.

Swinging his nunchakus furiously, Mikey desperately fended off his brother's attacks but the light trickle of blood from his jaw unnerved him. Was he really this weak? Would something like this cost his brothers in battle? Would he be their downfall?

Eyes losing focus, Mikey's attacks became sloppy. Fury blazed in Raph's eyes as he watched his brother's mind stray. With a cry, Raph struck a roundhouse kick into Mikey's plastron. He hadn't meant to kick that hard, but Mikey's lack of attention even in the face of a serious opponent made him see red.

Mikey absorbed the kick full-force, flying back and slamming into the dojo wall. The resulting slam covered the cracking sound Mikey felt coming from his ribs. Moaning, he curled around his chest, leaving his weapons forgotten on the ground.

Raph's chest heaved as he looked down at his little brother. Despite his best efforts, the young ninja didn't even bother to defend himself. How was Raph supposed to trust his little brother to survive when they went topside? How could he toughen up the pacifist ninja so he didn't have to worry about him so much?!

"How can you be so WEAK?!" Raph screamed. Frustrated tears pricked his vision. Before the orange turtle could notice, Raph spun on his heel retreating to his room to vent his anger.

Mikey could only whimper as his brother stomped out of the dojo. Raph was right. He was weak. He had to be better. Tougher. He couldn't let his family down. He had to protect them.

Fighting the tears springing to his eyes, Mikey braced a hand against the wall to push himself off the ground. A shooting pain rocked his side and he hissed through his teeth. Plaintively he looked out the dojo door to see if Leo or Don might give him a hand. Finding the living area empty, Mikey let the tears he had been fighting fall.

Slowly, he dragged himself up off the ground, sniffling. As he hobbled back to his room, there was only one thought echoing in Mikey's head.

He was weak.

…

As evening fell, the four brothers prepared to go on their evening patrol. Leo and Don began stretching while Raph worked up a quick sweat at his punching bag. Mikey sat silently on the couch, trying to hide his painful ribs form his brothers.

"Mikey shouldn't you stretch a bit?" Leo asked, sinking into a crouch.

"Oh uh…I did some stretching in my room before I came down," Mikey said with a weak laugh. The pain in his ribs felt like a punch in the gut.

"Let's just go already" Raph said, a light sheen on his skin. He didn't even look at Mikey.

Shaking his head, Leo led the three other turtles from the lair out to the sewers. Something had happened between his two younger brothers, but now wasn't the time to figure it out. He needed his full attention focused on the mission when they went topside.

Mikey was barely keeping up with his brothers, again trying to mask the pain in his side. He could feel a thin layer of sweat already dripping from his brow, but he just gritted his teeth. Raph was still mad at him.

Don's careful gaze took in the sight of his three brothers running ahead. Leo was in leader mode, already focused on what lay ahead. Raph was still angry, the emotion rolling off of him as he ran. Mikey…was Mikey grimacing? Don tried to get a closer look at his brother's face. Yes. Mikey was definitely grimacing. Don frowned. Was it his arm again? Did he actually hit Mikey harder than he thought?

Donnie didn't get a chance to finish the thought as they came to the ladder that would lead them to the surface. The brother's climbed the ladder that lead to the boisterous streets of New York City.

Swiftly they exited the sewers and leapt onto the nearest fire escape, scrambling to the wide-open rooftops. Mikey's breath hitched as the movements strained his injury.

Keep it together man.

Again Donnie noticed the orange turtle's discomfort.

"Hey Mikey," he said hesitantly. "Are you ok?"

Raph's heated gaze fell back to the two turtles.

Mikey's eyes went wide before brusquely replying, "Yeah dude quit worrying about me."

Donnie shut his mouth with a snap. Since when did Mikey get to be so gruff? Raph turned forward with a snort, and the four turtles took off across the rooftops.

The evening was quiet and the turtles were making good progress on their route. Mikey had so far, managed not to give away his pain, but could tell that his mask was slipping. Holding his arm against his side he continued to run.

Leo's feet pounded across the hard rooftop before leaping over the side, gracefully rolling to his feet on the adjacent roof. Silently his brother's followed him. That is until Mikey landed with a heavy thud before stumbling. Quickly he righted himself, but not before Leo had a chance to see. Looking at his brother confused, Leo wondered why the usually quick and nimble ninja was struggling so hard.

He was about to ask Mikey what was wrong when he felt them. Foot ninja. Whirling around, Leo drew his katanas barking orders.

"Donnie with me. Raph you're with Mikey." He wanted the strong red ninja there for his younger brother. Something wasn't right with Mikey.

As soon as the orders left his mouth the Foot attacked.

Leaping into action the four brothers quickly fell into their pairs. Leo's cool collected fighting fitting flawlessly with Donnie's precise and efficient blows. Together the two brothers cut a swath in the swarm of Foot soldiers, their faces set in grim determination.

Raph and Mikey however, were having problems. Raph's strength had leveled Foot after Foot, and yet Mikey was struggling. For every three that Raph took down, his younger brother could barely take down one. But what really made Raph nervous was his baby brother's silence. The normally joking orange turtle hadn't said a word. Not a single taunt. Instead his brows were knit together in concentration, his focus on his enemy.

With a satisfied grunt, Raph threw another Foot soldier into a wall. Finally his brother was taking this seriously. Seems like their round in the dojo had worked after all.

A new wave of Foot ninja flocked to the battle, and it was all Mikey could do not to groan out loud. His ribs were burning and he was barely keeping up with the few Foot engaged with him already. How was he going to fight off this new horde?

As if they had heard his silent complaint, four Foot Elite leapt into view. Their eyes cold and calculating.

"Guys we need to fall back!" Leo's order cut through the din of fighting.

"What?! Are ya kiddin' me?!"

"NOW Raph!"

Raph growled as his fist connected with a Foot ninja's face. Just when things were gettin' good. Reluctantly Raph regrouped with Leo and Donnie, helping fend off a few more careless Foot ninja that got too close.

"Mikey get ova here!" Raph shouted, turning back to his younger brother.

"Be there-ugh-in a minute," Mikey grunted. They were only 30 yards away. 30 agonizingly far yards away. With concerted effort, Mikey was somehow able to throw off the remaining two ninja he had been fighting and began to make his way towards his brother.

"Mikey! Look–!"

Mikey never got to hear the end of Donnie's cry as a heavily armored kick slammed into his side and his world went black.

…..

"He's gonna get us all killed…" the voice was ringing. Mikey looked for the source in the inky black surrounding him

"No! I won't be weak! I promise!" he cried out to nobody.

"One bruise and his focus goes to shell," the voice mocked cruelly.

"No I won't let that happen! I won't!"

"If you want to protect this family….

"Yes! Yes I do! I would do anything to protect them!"

"The ya gotta be TOUGH!"

Mikey woke with a start, pain lancing through his side. Was he still dreaming? Slowly he blinked his eyes, but the blackness was not receding. Gingerly he sat up, trying to get his eyes to adjust to the darkness. The clink of chains brought him painfully to the forefront of consciousness.

What?

The chains on his wrists were thick and heavy, pulling his arms above his head. The ache in his shoulders told him he had been there for a while before he came to. His ribs were throbbing…or was that his heart? Fear crept like tendrils of smoke around him, smothering him. Where was he? What happened? Where were his brothers?

The clank of metal was the only warning Mikey got before light flooded the dark room. Cringing, Mikey tried to cover his eyes from the obtrusive light, his shoulders groaning in protest.

"So turtle, you finally woke up."

Mikey's head snapped towards the voice, his heart dropping into his stomach.

Hun.

"Can't believe how easy it was to catch you," the giant rumbled. "Who knew you were so weak?"

Mikey felt as if he had been slapped. After trying so hard, he still managed to get himself captured….and his brothers?!

"If you lay a hand on my family…"

The giant roared in laughter.

"You'll do what little turtle? Shake your chains at me?"

Mikey could feel angry tears forming behind his mask. No. He wouldn't give Hun the satisfaction. Growling he glared at the massive human, hoping to cover his pain and humiliation.

"Hahaa- oh man I haven't laughed like that in awhile," Hun said, slapping a hand to his forehead still chuckling. "But no stupid turtle, the one you should be worrying about is you."

Without warning, Hun landed a vicious kick into Mikey's side. Doubling over the orange turtle wheezed and gasped, the chains biting into his wrists as he struggled for breath.

"You will talk turtle," Hun spat, grabbing Mikey by the back of his shell. His foul breath huffing into Mikey's face. "You will tell us where your brothers are, or you will wish you were never born."

Throwing the wounded terrapin against the wall, Hun turned and slammed the heavy metal door behind him, leaving Mikey once again in darkness.

One small thought gave Mikey comfort, as his breathing came in ragged gasps.

They don't know where my brothers are.

…

Raphael watched in horror as the Foot Elite had landed a devastating blow to Mikey's side. The red turtle had expected his baby brother to follow right behind him when he had gone to Leo and Donnie. Only now did he realize his terrible mistake.

With a roar Raph leapt forward to protect the fallen form of his brother, but was brought up short by a new wave of Foot soldiers. An animalistic cry rent from his throat as he manically began to mow down all in his path.

Mikey!

He vaguely was aware of Donnie and Leo jumping into the fray beside him, each savagely cutting their way through the mass of Foot ninja. But it seemed for every one they defeated, two more would take their place. Raph could only watch as the Foot Elite bent down and scooped Mikey up. Throwing the unconscious turtle over his shoulder.

"Put him down ya damn strawhead!" Raph yelled at the Foot Elite. Without even a backward glance the villain began racing across rooftops, quickly vanishing into the shadows.

"NO!" Raph's anger finally broke past the boiling point. His anger fueled his actions, no longer those of a ninja, but of a protective brother fighting tooth and nail to get to his sibling.

But even with his new efforts, the waves of Foot Ninja wouldn't decrease. Severely outnumbered Leo had to make the agonizing choice.

"Raph!" he cried, deflecting yet another Foot blade. "We have to retreat!"

Raphael whirled towards his blue brother. Surely the leader was joking.

"There are too many of them!" Leo yelled, flipping a ninja over his carapace. "We have to fall back!"

"Have you lost your MIND Leo?!" Raph screamed. "They got Mikey!"

"We can't do anything for him if we end up caught too!" Leo yelled back. "Or worse!"

Raph's vision saw red at the thought of running away. Those nutjobs had his brother. Like shell was he going to run away!

As he turned to once again throw himself at the wall of Foot ninja, he felt a three-fingered hand on his arm. Donnie gripped tightly shaking his head at his hothead brother. Raph moved to shake him off, but Don's grip was like iron. It was then Raph noticed the unshed tears in Don's eyes. Gripping his sai tight, Raph swore violently as he and his brothers turned to race away over the rooftops, away from the swarm of Foot ninja.

I will find you Mikey. He vowed silently. No matter what, I will find you.