Sooooooo. It has been a while.

Sorry. Have been busy but I am not abandoning this story (or any of my stories) It just takes a while. I got them all mostly planned but life is hectic and I have hardly the time to write as much as I want to. But I am trying my best so please be patient.

Warning, this one is un-beta'd for now. I will uploaded the beta'd version once my beta finishes but I figured you guys would prefer to read more than to wait so here it is.

.~,~.

Getting onto the plane had been surprisingly easy.

The turtle petted his liger as he waited for the noise from outside to stop so he could sneak out again.

Sneaking out was a bit harder because he wasn't sure just where everyone was located outside and which way they were looking, but he would manage. He had managed this far.

After some thinking and talking with the tribe elder Mikey had decided to take the plane instead of going with a cargo ship. Even with the ship leaving earlier than the plane the plane was just so much faster.

The ship would have taken about 3 weeks. That together with the two day waiting period before it even left made it not favourable. The plane he would have to sneak into wouldn't have left until a week later. But it only took about 8 hours.

The choice was easy.

The last days he spend training and checking his inventory to make sure he was ready.

The tribe had been sad to see him go but all of them understood the reason. Family came first.

The week had crawled by making it almost impossible to focus for the ninja.

However, that was over. He was back in New York city.

He was home.

Or at least to the airport.

Mikey closed his eyes and concentrated. He heard Klunk's breathing next to him. It seemed like his baby girl hadn't minded flying to much, yay for small miracles. He still heard cars driving by as they moved the cargo out from the plane but he didn't hear anyone near and the engines had gone offline a long time ago.

The orange clad turtle stood up and walked to the hole where the wheels went though and quickly took a peak outside. He didn't see anyone near and checked it over once more.

No one close.

Mikey put on his cap and looked at Klunk.

"Come on Klunkie. It is show time." Even at the almost unhearable whisper the liger looked up and walked over to stand by her turtle.

Mikey lead the way out and the two run for cover.

It was almost embarrassing with how easily the turtle and liger got out of the airport unseen. No one had even noticed them and Mikey had learned enough from Donnie to know how to make sure that the cameras wouldn't be a problem.

Almost too easy.

While Mikey ran he kept looking over his shoulder. He felt paranoid.

He had hoped that once he returned home he could have taken his time to get home. Explain his reasoning to his brothers and father. Tell them how much he missed them and how sorry he was. And hopefully get one of his brothers to give him a tour across New York to see what had changed and what had stayed the same.

Now? He needed to get there on his own. Only knowing the old schedule of the Foot and Purple Dragons.

Mikey frowned as he ran. He wasn't even sure if his family still lived in the same location of the sewers. He knew a few spots that would give enough space but they were wildly spread.

The ninja paused on a roof and quickly checked it over to make sure it was save. He had been running for almost an hour, he needed a break.

Klunk lay down in the shadows and closed her eyes, she clearly agreed with the taking a break part.

Mikey unpacked a bit of food and ate it while he looked around.

The city felt darker… but maybe that was because of the idea that Shredder was the one with the power now. That the city believed the words of that power hungry man.

As blue eyes looked across the skyline he spotted the beginnings of fences across the city. Splitting the city up in different parts and dividing the people in it. The streets were empty which was strange for this city. The city that never sleeps. Lights were off and businesses were closed.

Mikey suddenly froze midbite as he listened. He could have sworn he had heard something. Something heavy landing.

The ninja rose quietly and looked down at the streets more. Looked into the shadows. Nothing down there. Blue eyes turned back to the rooftops and looked more closely at the ones next to the rooftop he was located on. Still nothing. He looked over his shoulder and still nothing.

He felt like someone was looking at him. It made him happy for his cape and cap. Hiding him better.

Mikey slowly walked to another part of the roof. Trying to get that feeling off of him.

Suddenly the feeling disappeared when he walked past an air vent and the ninja stopped and listened closely.

…

…

…

Thump.

There it was again! He was sure of it.

Mikey quickly got his bow and arrow ready and looked past the vent. Nothing.

Whoever had been watching him was on the roof with him.

The turtle drew an arrow back and slowly looked over the roof. He spotted Klunk, still laying in her spot but sniffing the air quietly and looking around. She had heard the intruder too.

Silence returned for a few seconds when he suddenly heard someone land behind him. Without thinking he turned and jumped back to get away from the newly arrived treat.

It was the turtle's quick reflexes that saved him from getting punched in the face.

Mikey stared in shock at the gigantic blue turtle like creature. He spotted the giant mace in the mutant's hand as the giant started to raise it to attack.

"Ah Shell…" Mikey muttered as he jumped out of the way of the attack and thought 'I am going to need something else if I am going to battle him'

The mace crashed down on the roof where it left a dent and cracks in the material.

"Filthy ninja." The mutant growled as he got ready to attack again.

The ninja slowly backed up and helps his hands up in a disarming way "Hey dude. It is okay. No need to be so angry. I am not here to hurt anyone, promise!"

The mutant seemed to pause and looked the other over with a distrusting look.

"I know you." It growled and moved closer to attack. The face now looking disgusted instead of distrusting.

Mikey backed up more "I doubt it. But I have been told I have one of those faces you know."

"I know who you are." It spoke as it raised his weapon "You have returned. You shall suffer for leaving!" And the weapon came down.

Mikey dive rolled out of the way and took out his machete. He hadn't wanted to take it with him but now in hand to hand combat against someone wielding a mace? He was happy he did.

As the turtle turned around to study his enemy he noticed the eye shape and colour, he knew those eyes- then it hit him "Spike?"

The giant growled "It is Slash now. And you are idiotic brother that has returned after leaving Raphael to fight the Kraang."

The turtle ignored the insult as he tried to understand what had happened. Spike had mutated. But if that was the case why isn't Spike with Raph? Raph would still want to take care of Spike, or Slash? At least that is what Mikey would assume.

"Okay. Yeah… okay I will admit, maybe not my smartest idea but why aren't you helping him?" Raph had loved Spike. Saved him. Taken care of him. Didn't that mean anything to the newer mutant?

The giant mutant growled as he stalked closer to attack the ninja as he spoke "It is your fault."

"Mine fault?! I wasn't even here! How can it be my fault?" Mikey dodged out of the way of another attack of the mace and jumped up on a vent to have the higher ground.

"All of you" Slash growled out as his attack missed another time "All of you drag him down. All of you are useless to him. You always being a brat and annoying him." He raised his mace and Mikey jumped over it.

"You are an idiot, a useless waste of space. Never able to do anything without Raphael's help. Always being a source of stress for him" Slash snarled and attacked again "Donatello with his forever useless rambling, taking up important time to train. With zero results to help Raphael." Slash continued, Mikey glared at the other. "Leonardo, always arguing, never appreciated him. And then there is Splinter." Slash spits out the name, "Always putting others for him. Always trying to keep Raphael from using his anger and-"

"Shut up!"

Slash looked at the smaller mutant.

Mikey glared at the mutant. "I do not care that you think I am childish or annoying. But you will not tell such lies about my family. Donnie may ramble a bit but that is because he knows so many things. He needs to talk about them to get them out of his head and focus. And make the amazing things he does. What he does isn't annoying or useless. It helps him!" The ninja was breathing heavily.

"And Leo, Leo appreciates all of us. Always did. The reason he would get angry at us is because he is worried. And Raph always did dangerous things, they always worked out right but Leo was just worried! And Raph knew that!

"And dad… Master Splinter…" Mikey glared at the other "Dad always! Always! Put us all before himself. But never. NEVER one before the other. He knew us, knew what we could do, what we liked. He knew that Raph didn't really want to be leader. Before even Raph knew."

He raised his machete "Stop talking about my family like you knew what was going on. You don't know any of us. I doubt you even truly knew Raph. After all, from what I can see you left Raph, you left him while I strongly believe Raph was ready to accept you, when everyone was ready to accept you but you made him pick. You made him choice between his family and you, and he cares more about his family than anyone else. He picked us over you, you forced him to pick." That was the wrong thing to say. The second that line left his mouth Mikey knew he shouldn't have said that.

Slash went mental. He growled and started a fury of attacks. But he was stopped before he could do anything.

Klunk had smelled that the aggression aimed at her turtle had gotten worse and she was not going to stand for it. The second she saw the Danger start attacking she jumped on his back and clawed open his arms. She bit down and started to tear at the flesh right by the neck and shoulder. Slash screamed in pain and tried to get the liger off of him.

Mikey stared in shock. He knew that Klunk had gotten bigger. But now he saw her at full length. If she stood on her back legs she was easily taller than the mutant in front of them.

After the shock Mikey quickly stood up and took his stuff. The second he got his stuff he whistled Klunk back to him.

She didn't let go of the other mutant.

Mikey stared in shock, she was never disobedient, never.

"Klunk! Let him go! We are going. Now." Mikey tried to put as much force after his words as possible.

It seemed that hearing his voice did the thing. Klunk gave one last growl before she jumped off the bleeding and heavily wounded mutant. Mikey gulped slightly, he knew his Klunkie was strong but he had never seen her attack someone with so much killing intent.

Klunk walked over to him and stood in front of him as she growled at the downed Slash, a clear warning to never come near her turtle ever again.

Mikey petted his liger softly before climbed on her back "We need to go now-" Mikey had just made sure he wouldn't fall off when suddenly Klunk started to run, Mikey had to quickly grab on to her fur as she just run for it.

She didn't slow down for a while as she run over the roofs in New York. Making many turns and twists. The turtle tried to calm his liger as she run but she just wouldn't calm down.

Mikey wasn't sure how long she just kept running but it was for a while. Suddenly she stopped. She sniffed the air and deemed it safe. She laid down and panted to catch her breath. Mikey quickly climbed off and started to pet his friend.

"It is okay baby girl. You did amazing. Thank you for saving me." Mikey kept up his soft mutters and pets while he looked around just in case, can't have anyone catch them of guard.

They would have to get to the lair and fast. Mikey would need to check if his family was still okay. And if they weren't there if that was a safe place for him to start planning his families' rescue.

The two friends sat together until Klunk rose to her feet again. Mikey climbed back on and gently guided her in the right direction to get to the lair.

Just slow and steady.

Donnie always said that, slow and steady wins the race.

And he really needed to win this one.

.~,~.

Getting in the sewer was difficult. It seemed like Saki had spent a lot of money on making sure no one could just enter it.

But the turtle, just like his brothers and father, knew the sewer system. Know how to get in there easiest.

He knew of the cracks in the sewer pipes close by the water.

No one ever bothered to get that fixed before.

"Shell yes." Mikey grinned as he moved some bushes aside and spotted the cracked pipe. Seems like the government still didn't bother to get it fixed, score.

Mikey twisted into the pipe and turned to Klunk. The big feline sniffed the sewer pipe and looked offended at Mikey.

"I know Klunkie." Mikey spoke softly "I know it stinks but please? For me?"

Klunk looked displeased but jumped into the pipe with almost practised ease, seemed like her mom rubbed off her circus act on her after all.

"This way Klunkers. Now it is just a matter of getting to the lair." Mikey put a hand on his pet as he started to lead the way though the sewer system.

Nothing had changed in them, as expected. Just the same old system that he used to play in.

Mikey didn't spot anything that showed others had been down here. Maybe the foot hadn't managed to find the lair after all… maybe his family was still okay.

Hope returned as Mikey got closer to the lair. He was already going over what he should say to his family.

He got to the section he was looking for and opened up a side panel in the wall.

Mikey signalled Klunk into the pipe "Just down here little girl. This will lead us to the abandoned subway part we need to be in." Klunk looked displeased but did as ordered and jumped down the pipe. Mikey followed in after his liger.

They exited in an old subway tunnel and they continued walking. It took a while but they soon arrived where Mikey had lead them to.

The lair.

Which was dark… and quiet.

Mikey felt his hope crush "Guys? Dad? …. April? …. Anyone…." He looked around and could see that no one had been here for at least two days. Little to no food in the fridge. The dojo is empty. Donnie's tools are cold. A lot of dust on the game consoles.

After making a few rounds to the normal rooms Mikey ended by his father's personal room and knocked softly. "Dad?" He opened the door.

Also empty and dark.

Mikey sighed and turned to leave when he spotted something. Four candles. All of them burned up.

He knew that whenever he and his brothers would leave his father would light a candle to keep them safe. Mikey smiled softly and looked around the room. Where were they- there!

He walked over to a box and produced four new candles. He walked over to the others and looked at the table. Which one was for him and which for his brothers… and he saw it. The small toy practise weapons they used to train with. He carefully put the candles on the places of his brothers and placed the last one in the main slot, the one showing the head of the family. After that he carefully lit them. There. All in place.

Mikey quietly left the room, after making sure the candles wouldn't burn down the room of course.

He sat down on the couch and looked around.

Oh what was he doing? He can't pull of a rescue mission like this… how was he doing to break into Saki's building? How was he going to get in there and get his brothers and father out without any of them getting hurt?

For the first time since he read that article Mikey put his face in his hands and let the despair, fear and sadness just roll over him.

How was he going to help his family?

Klunk laid her head in Mikey's lap to try to calm him down while the youngest, and maybe the only one left, cried.

.~,~.

Mikey fell asleep on the couch. He woke up the next morning with Klunk purring next to him on the ground. The turtle stared at the roof before sitting up. He needed to get something to eat for himself and think of what to do now.

He rose from the couch and carefully walked past his liger, she deserved her rest. He walked to the kitchen and looked for anything he could use. He found some old still eatable things and cooked it together. The kitchen filled with the sounds of cooking and smells and Mikey found himself smile. He was home. It felt like home.

Once breakfast finished he looked though the old papers on the table. Lets see if Saki had done anything else that his brothers had gone after.

.~,~.

Live hanging of mutants.

That was his plan. He was going to hang the mutants he had caught until now live on Time Square. Like some medieval show. Mikey glared at the newspaper which showed the announcement. He had even sold tickets for it. That sick man.

Mikey's hands were shaking very badly but he managed to keep his anger in. He wanted to punch something and for the first time really understood why Raph had taken to hitting that punching bag whenever he was angry. The youngest turtle wouldn't hit anything though, he couldn't risk injuring himself. He needed to be in prime condition I he was going to stop this disaster, if not for his family than for the others.

Mikey sat up from his seat and heard a small sound from his left. Klunk had noticed his distress and had been waiting right next to him, guarding him while he was thinking.

"Oh baby girl" Mikey felt the tears in his eyes return as he sat on the ground and hugged his friend. Klunk started to purr and leaned into the touch of the turtle. "Thank you Klunkie." Mikey smiled as he petted his friend.

They sat in silence on the kitchen floor.

"You will love Leo. He is very serious and guarding. Much like you" Klunk was staring at Mikey as the turtle spoke. "Donnie will be worried. But then again he was also worried about Leatherhead, but he was also a big softly." Mikey was leaning back as he spoke "Raph will enjoy play fighting with you. He is a lot stronger than me so you will be able to be less careful…

"And dad… dad will just be happy with you for keeping me safe… for staying with me…"

Klunk just nuzzles her turtle and laid her head in his lap.

"You are right Klunkers. Let's rest for a bit more before moving out and checking the city over. We better get a good view on the city and Time Square if we want to save them all." Mikey petted the big cat as he quietly rose. He had a lot to prepare.

.~,~.

"He is the lowest of low and deserve to be left in the forest! No! he deserves to be thrown off a cliff and into a sea full of sharks where he sinks to the bottom and where he is attacked by jellyfish and-" Kala was glaring and throwing trash at the poster with the announcement for the live hanging.

Zak just looked at his sister as he drunk from his soda cup. Keeping an eye out so none of those guards saw his little sister rave at the 'saviour of new york'. Dask stopped by his brother by the trunk and looked at him, "I see she is still busy?"

Zak shrugged "She is. She is very concentrated on it." Zak looked up at his older brother hopefully "Did you find any useful information?"

"Luckily I did." Dask smiled slightly but soon frowned again "Time Square tomorrow afternoon. At three sharp. Saki made it so that the giant new years ball is counting it down."

Zak stared in shock and shuddered "That guy has a lot of power."

"Sadly." Dask calmly walked over to his little sister and put a hand on her shoulder "Kala."

Kala turned to Dask and hugged him, tears streaming her face "We need to stop it Dask… We need to stop that monster and free them. I know Mikey said a lot of mutants were aggressive but no one deserves this. It is inhuman"

"I know little sis. I know." Dask hugged kala close before pulling her back and smiled at her. "Lets get back in the car and get to the junk yard. There we can get more supplies and I hope that isn't as well watched."

"Why don't we go into the sewers?" Kala spoke quietly "Look for that old lair Mikey told us about. He said he always got to it from either the sewers of the subway…"

Dask shook his head "I looked at those first. But the sewers are watched closely. I am sorry sis."

Kala sighed sadly but nodded in understanding.

"Don't worry Kaly" Kala looked annoyed at the nickname as Zak spoke "I am sure we will see Mikey soon." He grinned teasingly before making a kissy face.

Kala's glare got worse as she picked up another cup and aimed at Zak's face before throwing. The cup hit it's mark as Zak fell of the truck with a yelp and curse.

Dask chuckled before leading his brother and sister into the truck and the three drove towards the junk yard.

"Dask… what is our plan?" Zak sounded worried.

Dask smiled as he drove the truck "The plan is easy. We are going to ensure that the hanging ceremony is a gigantic failure."

"How are we going to do that?" Kala leaned on the two front seats and between her brothers.

"We are going to do what we do best." Both Zak and Kala waited for their brother to continue. "We are going to make a bit of mess, like we used to do as the Neutrino's we are."

The two younger adults grinned mischievous, that they could do.

.~,~.

"So this is the place?" Angel turned towards Zach as he stood next to a large podium under a giant screen.

"According to the poster. Yes." Angel looked the scene over before walking back to the borrowed motorcycle.

Zach quickly jumped of the podium and ran after his new friend. "So what is the plan? At three it will happen so…"

"We are going to stop it." Angel said it determined and spoke as she saw that Zach was about to say something again "I don't know how. But we will stop it."

Zach grinned and nodded "When you say it like that I have no doubt we will succeed." Zach climbed behind Angel on the motorcycle as she started to drive.

"Where will we stay?" Zach looked around worried.

Angel shrugged "Mikey said that their lair was in the old subway below the sewer systems. We are going to drive around in the city and around the city itself to see if we can find any way to enter it easily."

"He did tell me they had this truck, the Shell-Raizer I believe, which they used. They probably had a way to move that in and out of the old subway to the new subway." Zach offered the idea as Angel thought.

She nodded "Then we will also check the subway. See how active it is and see if we can find a map on it."

Zach grinned and nodded "Sounds like a plan."