Sorry for the horribly late post, no matter how hard I try to actually update on time it never really works out. Thank you for being super loyal and patient readers! I appreciate that more then anything. Please enjoy!

Raph grunted as he sat on a recliner next to the couch casting a nervous glance over to Mikey who was sleeping on the beat up old couch. "we have to constantly watch him now, I never thought he would do something like this!"

Leo put a hand on Raphs shoulder, "Raph this isn't our Mikey, not yet at least. He is scared and just needs...something to snap him out of this. Remember when Master Splinter went into serious training mode a couple of months ago when we lost to Shredder? It took him a while to just calm back down because he realized he could have lost us. Mikey is the same! Except on a larger scale, he saw us all beaten up and bloody Raph, no one can really see that and be completely ok after the fact. I know he would never ever do this, he's just desperate to get a grip on what is going on."

Don looked at Leo in awe as he explained, "that makes alot of sense actually...I just wish we could do something."

"Yea..."

The next time Mikey woke up it was about 2am, he looked around him and found the lamp closest to him still on but the rest of the lair dark, with exception of the soft glow from the machines hooked to Master Splinter and Leatherhead in the lab.

"Hey Mikey."

Mikey flinched and looked over to find Donnie sitting next to him, he covered his face, "why?"

"Mikey...why don't you believe us?" Don knew he should have waited for Mikey to speak to him but he couldn't help it anymore, he had been the only one respecting that rule latley anyways.

"Don...whoever you are...you all died. I saw you all, I smelled the blood, it was everywhere! So how can I imagine you all back here and ok after that?!"

Don forcefully took Mikeys hand and set it on top of his wrist then held it there, Mikey tried to pull away but Don pulled him closer.

"Get off-"

"Could a hallucination pull your physical form, Mikey? Could a person hallucinating actually feel their hallucinations pulse?"

Mikey looked into Dons eyes, his own started tearing up as he felt the strong pulse in Dons wrist. "I...I..." To Dons surprise Mikey jerked away and jumped up and over the couch then out of the lair. Don noticed the slight limp he had as he ran and knew the only way he wasn't falling over was the recent strong pain meds and adrenaline.

"Mikey!"

Raph and Leo were both in the living room instantly, Raph looked around quickly, "Don! Where's Mikey?!"

"He ran out towards the main sewer tunnels, his ankle is still sprained if he continues running on it, it will get alot worse then it was before!"

Raph and Leo nodded, "Don you stay here and look over Master Splinter and L.H. me and Raph will get him back."

Don sighed knowing it was the best plan the situation at hand could offer, "alright...be careful guys, and good luck."

With that Leo and Raph took off towards the main sewer tunnels lightning fast. "Mikey!"

"Mikey come on!"

"Please! We just want to talk!"

Nothing.

Raph and Leo stopped short, Raph loomed over at Leo, "ya hear that?"

Leo listened intently, sure enough there was a soft sob heard. As the two older brothers came closer to the corner Leo noticed a small trickle of blood trickling down the corner of the wall Mikey was leaned against, he quitley pointed this out to Raph who now had eyes wide of fear for his youngest brother. They let a few solemn minutes pass so Mikey could at least gather himself, then they stepped out.

The reaction was immediate, but instead of Mikey launching himself into a run again he fell forward, Raph barely catching him in the process. "Wow, wow, wow, calm down buddy...we're here to help, promise. Now sit back, you're safe Mikey. I promise."

Mikey sobbed as Raph helped him to sit back against the dirty sewer wall, he carefully let Mikey lean forward as he held the young turtle up by his shoulders.

Leo examined the back of Mikeys head with intense concern, "Mikey...did you fall?"

Mikey slowly and barely nodded but it was noticed. "I...was running and slipped. Hit a wall. Didn't care." His dull and lifeless voice made the two elder turtles cringe a bit, this was too much.

"Well you can't walk, much less run so you might as well let us help you back."

Another sob. "I...I..." Raph pushed Mikey back Into a almost normal sitting position to see Mikeys eyes only to find them glazed over and rolling back.

"Mikey? Mikey stay awake."

Small tears sprung from his almost lifeless eyes as he blinked in desperation to stay awake. He mumbled one last last thing but the sentence only got halfway out, "I believe-" then he was out.

The worse part was that Leo and Raph didn't even understand the half mumble. "He's out, Leo." Raph let Mikey lean all the way forward in his arms now, his head now resting against Raphs shoulder.

Leo examined Mikeys head closely once more, "we have to get him to Donnie ASAP, he has got a huge gash on the back of his head and judging from how he couldn't even get up when he tried to run away from us a while ago I'd say it's a really bad concussion."

Raph shook his head as he gently picked Mikey up bridal style, he hated how he was so light. He had to carry Mikey away from many fights before and needless to say he always needed his shell to sling Mikey on so he could at least walk a little faster. But now...he was running with Mikey in his arms, there was a good 40 pound difference to the turtle. This fact scared Raphael to death, Leo also noticed how easy it seemed for Raph to be able to carry Mikey in the style he was and run at the same time. "Jeez Mike..."

Not even a mumble in response.

Once the two finally arrived at the lair Raph ran to the lab where Don was located, he carefully laid Mikey on the third and last hospital bed right next to Master Splinter.

Don propped him up into an almost sitting position with a whole pile of pillows, he then proceeded to carefully clean the gash on Mikeys head and take vitals. "He hit his head very hard, he will be out of it for a few hours, luckily he won't be comatose, I made sure of that fact. How did this happen though? I know I kinda...messed up and made him run but was this self inflicted?!"

Both Raph and Leo shook their heads quickly at this, "no his story was pretty legit, apparently he slipped and crashed against a wall...he's done it before so ya know."

Don pondered this for a few seconds then finally nodded, "you're right, best to assume the less of the worse scenarios."

Leo sat back in a chair in a sigh, "he was trying to say something before he lost consciousness, I don't know what though..."

Raph shrugged it off, "no use asking questions that can't be answered now, he'll wake up soon. What did you say to him to make him want to run away anyways?"

Don scratched at the back of his neck, "I couldn't take it anymore! I had to prove our existence, so I made him feel the pulse of my wrist and said if he was hallucinating there is no way he could imagine all that detail."

Raph glared at Donnie, "so much for letting him talk to us first, huh?"

Leo saw the slight flinch from Don, that was all he saw before he found himself holding the normally calm turtle back away from Raph. "Wow! Donnie! Pull yourself together! Hey! HEY!"

Don never stopped trying to get past Leo, finally Leo had managed to get the temperamental turtle pinned to the wall until he calmed down. "Don...are you alright now?"

Don wiped at his face, "yea...I'm...calm."

Leo caught Don as he fell forwards suddenly. "Donnie! Don? Raph help me."

Raph unclenched his fists and, with a solemn frown, helped Leo bring Don to the couch. "What the shell is wrong wit him?! He seemed just fine when he was pissed a few seconds ago!"

Leo shook his head, "come on Raph, even when Don is in his bad moods he would never fight. He's just really really tired, he passed out from exhaustion. We just...weren't watching him close enough."

Raph looked down in shame, a few seconds later he snapped his head up.

"Guys! Guys!?"

"Mikey?" Raph and Leo ran to the lab only to find Mikey stumbling out of his bed and onto the floor. "Mike, stop!"

Mikey looked up and froze then shut his eyes, the next time he opened them he started to cry. Leo and Raph cautiously stepped closer afraid they would scare Mikey. "Mikey...can we help you?"

Mikey quietly nodded as he was helped up then laid back into his bed, "I...can't believe it."

Leo gave Raph a wary glance, "what can you not believe?"

Mikey rubbed at his eyes, "you...are really alive! You helped save me and you brought me here...and...and Don had a pulse and he was actually alive and-"

Raph and Leo ended Mikeys sentence with a huge hug. "Thank shell...jeez Mike it's about time...I missed you little bro."

Leo smiled at Raphs rare show of affection and added, "it's really great to have you back little brother...hopefully Don will wake up soon so he can see for himself that your ok now. Well...semi ok, you still have a concussion."

Mikey put a hand to his head. "Explains alot actually...whoa...what happened to Master Splinter and L.H.?!"

Leo sighed, "they're still wounded from the battle with Shredder...do you remember that?"

Mikey nodded, "I think I remember everything I just...can't believe it."

"Well little bro, you still need more shut eye before we get into anymore detail but...I'm so glad you came to. It's amazing that we finally got you back."

Mikey smiled and looked down at his patched up arm and ankle, he growled a bit. "What's with the arm bandage?"

Raph rubbed at his arm anxiously, "you don't remember what you did to yourself?" Seeing the confusion in Mike's eyes Raph sighed, "you thought we were all fake and you, I guess, were dreaming or going crazy and you...you cut yourself bro."

Mikeys eyes widened, "shell...I'm...really sorry I have made you all go through this."

Leo stepped in, "It wasn't your fault Mikey. I would have done the same if I was in your position, you have been through alot of stress, you just reached your breaking point. You're back now and that's all that matters, those wounds will heal just like you will in time."

Mikey laughed a bit, "why don't you sign up for hallmark? They need more sappy card makers."

Leo chuckled at this while Raph simply face palmed and laughed. "Well at least his humor is still in tact, ey Leo?"

Leo shook his head and rolled his eyes, "get some more rest Mikey we will be right here, alright?"

Mikey simply nodded and quickly fell asleep, the next morning both Mikey and Don awoke. Raph and Leo were both seated next to Mikey in separate chairs still fast asleep, Mikey smiled and sat up to stretch when Don slowly entered the lab.

Dons eyes widened as he saw Mikey, he suddenly became anxious not wanting to make Mikey freak out again. "Hey Mike..." He wasn't expecting an answer but sure enough Mikey answered.

"Morning Donnie!"

Don paled at the cheery voice that he had been wishing to hear for so long. " U-uh...Good morning!" He rushed over and got closer to Mikey but still stood two or three feet away. "How do you feel?"

Mikey smiled, Dons stomach dropped, he hadn't seen Mikey be Mikey in so long. "I feel pretty good! Once I get all these bandages off and back to training."

Don couldn't hold back the tears. "You're back!" Don enveloped Mikey in a hug, soon Raph and Leo, who had been woke up by Dons outburst, joined in the hug.

Everything was ok again...well almost ok. The next two months was quite a roller coaster for the mutant family, with Mikey restored to his former self the three brothers helped him slowly to get his physical strength back.

They also worked on his emoitional state as well, even though he was the old Mikey they knew and loved he still slipped into flashbacks of seeing them all 'dead' and injured. Even through his breakdowns and flashbacks the three brothers saw both his emotional and physical state improving everyday.

Before all of Mikeys real recovery Master Splinter had finally awoke, "m...my son's..."

Don, who was busy taking L.H.s vitals, heard the slight mumble. "Master Splinter! Guys! Father is awake!"

A split second later all four of the brothers were surrounding Master Splinter with hopeful faces. It had been almost three weeks without their master and the brothers couldn't have been happier to finally see Splinter talking and well.

His burns were still pretty bad but Don assured them all everyday that they were in fact getting better. Master Splinter smiled at his sons, they all looked so young with their innocent hope flooding their usually serious and respectful faces.

"How do you feel Master Splinter?"

Splinter coughed, "I do feel quite tired I must admit but I am better, my soul has been doing its own healing in the span of time I have been asleep. Now that my emotional state is stable I will be able to focus more of my energy on healing. Thank you, my sons, for watching over me."

The four of them beamed. A few days after the happy reunion sure enough another occurred. Leatherhead slowly opened his eyes and looked around him, seeing that his surroundings consisted of lab equipment and needles he freaked. But sure enough with the help of mostly Master Splinter and Leo Leatherhead soon calmed down.

Don carefully looked over his bandages to make sure he hadn't opened any of the wounds that were still stitched up.

"I am sorry my friends...my survival instincts got the best of me...what has happened?"

Don cleared his throat, "you're ok, just healing. You got beat up pretty bad by Shredder the night you and Mikey broke in."

Leatherhead quietly shook his head trying to gather his thoughts. "I see..."

Don quickly reassured L.H. about the situation at hand, he knew that he hated being around them too much in fear he would snap once more. "You're injuries should be fully healed in about two weeks max. As long as you take it easy and rest."

L.H. nodded with a sigh, "very well, thank you all for taking care of me, I am in your debt. Michelangelo...how are you fairing?"

Mikey smiled, at this time he still had crutches and a wrapped ankle. "I'm doing alot better thank to you and my brothers...I couldn't have done it without you all."

In only a few months everything started going back to normal, finally after four long months L.H. was back at his home, and Master Splinter was almost fully healed, he was scared up badly but once some of his fur grew back in its place he looked and felt alot better.

As for Mikey and his brothers, they had finally gotten permission to go topside once more.

"It beautiful isn't it Raph? Look at the city!" Mikey took a big breath of air, "and smell that fresh air would ya?" Mikey let out a small cough, "ok got a little bit too much of the city in that breath but...still! Better then sewer air!"

Raph chuckled and punched Mikey lightly in the shoulder. "Come on knucklehead we're falling behind."

As the two caught up they slowly caught the quiet tension in the air. Joining Leo and Don they looked over the edge of the building and onto the next rooftop, sure enough it was a few foot soldiers on look out.

In a matter of seconds they were down, Raph cracked his knuckles, "I've been waiting for that!"

Leo took note of Mikeys sudden lack of talking, "you ok Mikey?"

"Hm? Oh, yeah."

Raph hated the awkward silence that followed his answer, Leo was expecting an answer Mikey wasn't ready to give. "You ever want revenge on them Mike?"

The three older brothers listened intently, either way they would back him up.

"No...my revenge was going to destroy the Shredder but then I found you all and we're all ok now. Revenge isn't really the answer in the end, it just makes you weak... but you can bet your shell the next time we fight I will be sure to throw some extra punches in!"

The four laughed a bit, Don, Leo and Raphs hearts swelled with pride of their little brother learning such a difficult lesson so early on.

They were together once more and that's all that mattered.