Donatello was so focused on deactivating the device that he didn’t even realize that Mikey had left his side. The rapid footfalls behind him were what alerted him to the danger. He turned in time to see Karai with her katana ready to strike. His bo did little to slow the blade and it sliced into his shoulder, wedging into his shell. Her other katana pierced his side, it was a strange sensation.
Raph called out and Mikey rushed to help. He could almost feel the damage to his insides as Karai pulled the blade free. His legs went numb and he fell to the ground. Through the portal opening he could see the Foot soldiers returning with the frozen Shredder, so he pulled the plug….
….He was being carried….
….Mikey’s scent was mixed with blood….
…. His chest was heavy and his heart pounded….
An explosion and the sensation of falling…. A bright flash as his head struck something hard….
….Burning…. Noise all around…. Jostling….
….Hard to breathe…..
Raph’s voice… what was he saying?...
Voices…. Brightness…. Motion…. Cold…. Dark
….
…. Rushing warmth….
The scent of an alpha…. Han…. Han was holding him. Why?
Donny opened his eyes. He was in the river. The warm glowing water rushed around him. The sound of Mikey’s sobs could be heard over the sound of the water. Donny looked around.
“He’s coming to,” Han announced.
“Han?” Donny breathed.
“Hush now, Master,” Han soothed. “Let the river heal you.”
“M…my b…b…brothers?” Donny stammered.
“Alive,” Han assured him.
“He’s healed, Han,” a mystic informed him. “Bring him closer so shore, but don’t let him stand on his own yet.”
Han turned and carried Donatello to the shore. Donny blinked his eyes and looked around, everything was out of focus. “I can’t see well.”
The mystic met them at the shore, “Keep calm. You suffered a great trauma to your body and your brain.”
He looked at her and he felt tears in his eyes, “My brain?”
“Put him down slowly,” she instructed.
Han shifted Donny in his arms and placed his feet in the shallow waters. His legs trembled under his weight and there was numbness in his left leg. He cried out in agony and held on to Han. Tears streamed down his cheeks as he tried to assess the permanent damage to his body.
“Donny,” Raph’s hand was on his carapace. “I’ll take him.” Donny turned and fell into Raph’s arms. “I’ve got you,” Raph soothed.
Donny looked up and saw the scars on the left side of Raph’s face and his missing eye. Panic filled Donny and his hand came up to touch the skin fused over the empty socket.
Raph kissed his head, “You still see well enough.” Ookin assisted them to sit on the shore and Raph cradled Donny in his lap. “The mystics said that your vision would be compromised.”
Donny nodded and ran his fingers along the deep scars all over Raph’s arm.
“Mikey’s in shock,” Raph informed him. “Leo seems like he is too, but is more stoic. He’s sitting with Haru.” Mikey’s cries echoed over the river. “Mikey lost an arm,” Raph continued. “And Leo’s eyes were damaged so he’s light sensitive.”
Donny sobbed, “Sh… Shredder?”
“Dead,” Raph answered. “You cut the portal off in time to slice him in half. Bishop had the half in this world incinerated.”
Donny couldn’t stand the sorrow from Mikey anymore and tried to stand. Raph didn’t argue and instead helped him up. It took a great deal of effort, but Donny managed to get his legs to work. He still needed Raph for support as he walked towards the sound of Mikey’s crying.
He wasn’t very far, sitting in the shallow water with his arm submerged. The closer Donny got the clearer he could see his brother and the deep scar along the back of his head. Donny sat next to him and gently chirped.
Mikey’s breathing was labored, “I’m sorry.” He continued to cry.
Knowing that his words would fail him Donny simply opted to trill while nuzzling Mikey’s neck.
Mikey’s blue eyes were dilated in shock, “Why isn’t Mizuchi growing my arm back? Is he punishing me for leaving your side?” Mikey cried, “I’m so sorry.”
“The magic doesn’t work that way, Mikey,” Leo answered. “He can heal us but not repair the damage. There are limits.”
“But it’s magic,” Mikey argued with a wail.
“It’s okay, Mikey.” Donny soothed, but Mikey didn’t calm.
Leo kept his eyes closed as he moved to sit next to them and soon Raph joined them. Donny looked at their scars and saw his brothers from the future. He couldn’t fight the panic that filled him and had to keep reminding himself that Shredder was dead.
Splinter waded out to them, “My sons.”
Mikey jumped up and scrambled into their father’s waiting arms, “Daddy, I’m so sorry.”
“Hush Michelangelo,” Splinter soothed. “I am here.”
With Leo and Raph’s help Donny stood and they all made their way to the shore. Several human doctors surrounded them and started looking them over, amazed by the water’s healing powers. Donny could see that there were four gurneys covered in blood along the shore line and wondered how close to death they were.
One of the humans pushed a wheelchair up for Donny to sit in. He swallowed his pride and sat down, grateful to be off his feet.
Bishop walked up to them, “We are moving the portal and the eggs out to the farm. As soon as the transfer is complete you will go there. The media is all over New York right now. It was impossible to stop them after the explosion. We are doing a lot of damage control there.”
Raph nodded, “I was awake enough to see them as your men pulled us from the building.”
“I want you to take a vacation,” Bishop told them. “You’ve been through enough these past few months.”
Raph grunted out a laugh, “We already planned on a little vacation after this. Didn’t we Leo?”
Leo nodded, “Yeah. We did.”
“Where’s Mona?” Raph asked.
“She’s helping with the move,” Bishop answered. “Stockman and Mrs. Morrison will be there too.”
“Leonardo,” Usagi pushed his way through the crowd.
Leo looked up, “Where’s Leatherhead?”
Usagi’s hand came up and touched the scars between Leo’s eyes, “He stayed in the Wani village. He needs to prove himself there if he wants a mate.” Tears fell from Usagi’s eyes only to be lost in the soft fur on his face, “Are you okay?”
Leo forced a smile, “My vision is blurry, but I can still see and my wounds have been healed.”
Usagi tilted his head, “Yes, but how are you?”
Leo looked away, “I’m okay.” Tears fell from his eyes, “How many times are we going to be brought back from the brink of death?” He fought to keep himself in control, “How much longer are we going to have to fight?”
“What happened?” Usagi asked.
“We had a big fight with the Foot Clan, again,” Raph grunted. “We all got pretty beat up.”
Usagi looked at all four Turtles and his eyes landed on Mikey, “Oh. I can see that.” He then walked over to Donny, “Are you alright?”
Donny nodded, “I don’t know if I will be a very good ninja anymore. And I won’t be winning anymore fighting tournaments.” He felt the tears weld up, “We all just need time to recover.”
“You will get it,” Bishop assured him.
**
Raph pushed the wheelchair through the portal and Donny found himself alone in an empty space of white. He looked around in panic, “Raph!”
“It’s okay,” Renet stepped into view. “I brought you here.” She looked older and sounded more mature.
“Why?” Donny asked.
“I know what the time scepter showed you,” she answered. “And I know that you fear that it will come to pass.”
“They have the same scars,” Donny placed his hands over his face. “I can see them, dead.”
“That future will not happen,” she reassured him. “Look at all that is different. In that timeline your father was killed by the Foot Clan. The Utroms did imprison Shredder, but your brothers were never trained as acolytes, because they never freed the Demon Shredder’s minions from Karai. Casey and April did not help Winters find his brothers and he continued to be immortal, they also never had a child. Your brothers split and did not fight in the Battle Nexus again. Usagi was killed when the Kame village was attacked and Inugami was released. Michelangelo did not pull the plug in time to stop Utrom Shredder form reentering their world and Casey was killed in the blast. All because you weren’t there.”
Donny let out a sob, “Are we really safe from that future?”
“Yes,” she smiled then bent down and kissed him on the head. “I wish I could undo the damage to your body, but I’m pushing the laws of my station as it is. Sleep well, Donatello, knowing that the nightmare you witnessed will not happen.”
“Thank you,” he whispered.
“No problem Donny,” Raph kissed the back of his head. “I’m sure you’ll be strong enough to walk again after your body rests.”
Donny wiped the tears from his cheeks, “Yeah. Everything is going to be okay.”
**
It wasn’t quite warm enough to swim, so the Turtles stayed indoors. Bishop and his men set up the nursery and had fixed up the house quite a bit in the months since they had been there last.
Casey, April and Mrs. Morrison were all out at the farm to lend the Turtles their moral support and to help with the babies. April was glad to be away from the city and was even suggesting to Casey that they move out to the farm permanently. “We can set up the shop in town.”
“It would be like returning home,” Casey smiled and caressed Ember’s head. “I can show our little Ember all the places I used to hang out when I was a kid.” He sighed, “I think it’s a great idea.”
In the moth that followed the Turtles resumed the Kame’s training, with Splinter’s help and the exception of Mikey. Leatherhead returned from Second Earth with his mate Nalani. He was glad of the fact that they were all out at the farm, he had never been before and it was less of a shock for his new mate than the compound would have been.
Leatherhead and Stockman got to work to see if science could repair some of the damage that magic could not. Leatherhead was upset that he wasn’t there to help them in their big battle. Donatello reassured him that there was really nothing he could have done to make any difference, but that didn’t change the fact that the alligator believed he should have been there.
Stockman made Leo and Don special glasses that strapped over their eyes and around the back of their heads. Leo’s had dark lenses for his light sensitivity and Donny’s were prescription to help correct his blurred vision. Raph had told Donny that he looked cute in the glasses, but Donny didn’t see it.
The Turtles underwent several physical exams and assessments. Doctor Park was also moved out to the farm along with another therapist to help the Turtles work through the trauma. Mikey was the only one who was refusing to go, but the two Doctors told the Turtles to let him come to them.
Mikey started wearing a mask similar to the ones they wore as children, to cover the long scar on his head. Donnie had never seen Mikey so depressed before. He would just sit and stare at the ground for hours and occasionally break down and start crying. He didn’t even go to watch when Haniel hatched.
Leo would comfort him as best he could, but Mikey was unresponsive.
“What can we do for him?” Donny asked his brothers one day.
“His guilt’s over you,” Leo answered.
Donny sighed, “Then I’ll go to him.” He stood and using his new walking cane made his way to where Mikey was sitting outside. “It’s a little cold out here,” Donny stated as he walked up to Mikey. He got no response. Mikey continued to look out over the horizon.
Donny sat down next to him, searched for words but couldn’t think of anything to say. He scooted closer to Mikey and snuggled, “I need you.” Again no response. Tears fell from Donny’s cheeks, “Please Mikey. Please be okay.”
Tears fell into Mikey’s headband, but he did not move.
Donny got up and moved into Mikey’s lap, “You’ve been like this for a month. You missed Haniel’s hatching and we can see that the babies are looking for you. They need to hear your gentle rumble, and so do we. We’re nineteen now and we haven’t even celebrated that fact. It kills me to see you this way. You are and have always been my best friend.”
“I failed you,” Mikey sobbed.
“We’re okay,” Donny soothed, happy to get something out of him. “I’m okay.”
“Karai almost killed you, because I failed to protect you,” Mikey started to cry. “How can you still love me?”
Donny nuzzled Mikey, “The same way you and Leo still love Raph after everything that he has done. You made a mistake. You saw the love of your life go down and he was the only thing you could see at the time.”
“I should have stayed with you,” Mikey choked out.
“Who’s to say it would have been any different in the end?” Donny pointed out. “In the future I saw, you had all the injuries you have today. So the only difference I made was getting the device unplugged before Shredder came all the way through. I was useless preventing the rest of it.”
Mikey looked up at him, “You prevented the bad guy from winning. You made the greatest difference.”
Donny forced a smile, “I wanted to prevent your suffering.”
“So I looked like this in the future you went to?” Mikey asked.
Donnie nodded, “And you were still an awesome fighter. To be honest you only get hotter with age.”
Mikey smiled for the first time in a month, “I can’t help it. It’s just the way I am.” His hand came up and cupped Donny’s backside. “I just realized that I haven’t had sex in over a month.”
Donny smiled, “Then get up and go to Leo. He needs you.”
“The damage you suffered,” Mikey stifled a sob. “Did it affect your ability to… ah…?”
“Have sex?” Donny finished for him. “I can still have sex. It just takes me longer.” He laughed, “So I guess it’s a good thing.”
“I’m so sorry, Donny,” Mikey sobbed.
“Stop it,” Donny kissed him. “I’m fine. Stop blaming yourself.” He shifted to get up and Mikey helped him. “I’ll adjust,” Donny smiled. “Splinter said that he can train me to fight despite my disability.”
“That’s good,” Mikey forced a smile. “You’ll be all limping up and they will underestimate you then you’ll bust some mad ninja skills out and kick their asses.” Mikey punched at the air.
Donny laughed, “And the one armed Turtle Titan will shock everyone with his ability to overcome.” He cupped Mikey’s face, “I need my lighthearted Mikey back.”
“I don’t know if I’ll ever be the same,” Mikey sighed.
“None of us will,” Donny touched their foreheads together. “But, please don’t let it kill your joy.”
“Okay,” Mikey nodded. “I’ll talk to the doctors.”
“Good,” Donny kissed him. “Now go to Leo.”
“Yes!” Mikey lifted Donny, something that amazed him do to the fact that Mikey was missing half an arm. As soon as they entered the house Mikey placed Donny on the sofa and ran over to Leo. “Let’s go have sex!”
Leo looked at him with his mouth agape, “Bishop’s men are in here.” Leo pointed to some men standing in the kitchen.
Mikey waved them off, “They know what we do. Let’s go.” Mikey grabbed Leo’s hand and pulled him up, “I’m gonna have you churring so loud anyway, soon the whole house will know what we’re doing.”
“Mikey!” Leo gasped as he was lifted. “A little modesty please.”
“I haven’t had sex in a month,” Mikey shot back. “You should be happy that I’m not throwing you on the kitchen table and taking you right there.”
“Mikey,” Leo breathed.
All other words were cut off when Mikey let out a deep lust filled rumble that caused his three omegas to answer with a churr. Mikey laughed, “I still love that.” He raced for the stairs and took two at a time on the way up to their room. “Hi Master Splinter,” he hollered from the hall way above. “You might want to put some ear plugs in.”
Donny laughed, “I’m glad he’s feeling better.”
“Sex is a great motivating factor for Mikey,” Raph grunted.
“Speaking of sex,” Donny purred. “Wanna find Mona?”
“I think I would like to be alone with you this time,” Raph smiled. “We were with her last night and we really need to give her a chance to rest.”
“That’s fine,” Donny snuggled up close to him. “Let’s go to the barn?”
“Okay,” Raph picked him up off the sofa.
Splinter came down the stairs, “I’m going to the barn to get away from the noise they are about to make.” The men in the kitchen laughed. Raph and Donny settled for going upstairs too.
