Out Of Place CHAPTER 3

CHAPTER 3

Slowly Mikey blinked at Donatello who continued to look at him. Next to Donatello, Raph was staring at his genius brother, making no attempt to hide his mouth which was hanging open in shock at what Donatello had said. On Donatello’s other side Leo sat in stunned silence, his eyes regularly flickering between his brother and Mikey.

Swallowing nervously Mikey spoke. “You……think I’m……..from another dimension?”

Across from him Donatello nodded. “Yes. It’s the only explanation I can think of that is supported by all the evidence I have.”

Mikey shook his head. “What do you mean?”

Donatello shrugged. “Well for one thing your blood type is different. Our Mikey had ‘O’ blood. That’s why we always used his if we needed a transfusion. But your blood type is AB-. It a completely different blood time. But it’s more than just that.”

From his spot in his seat splinter spoke. “Speak plainly Donatello.”

Sighing softly Donatello smiled weakly at Mikey before continuing. “Your blood has antibodies to diseases I’ve never seen before. Not only that but the trace amounts of mutagen that is in your blood, it’s more complex than the traces in all of ours. I’m sure if I ran other tests I could find more way that you’re different but those are the big ones. And because of them and what you’ve told me, it’s my conclusion that you’re not ‘our’…..” Donatello gestured to Leo and Raph as well as himself.  “……Mikey but instead from a parallel dimension.”

Swallowing again Mikey spoke. “So……so what now? How do I get back?”

Across from him, Mikey watched as Donatello sighed sadly before shaking his head slowly. “I……I don't know.”

Mikey felt his heart clench as panic rippled through him. “W…what do you mean? What do you mean you don't know? I’ve got to get back!”

He didn’t mean to shout the last bit. It felt like the chair he was sitting on had been jerked out from under him. his mouth opened and closed but no words came out as he struggled to understand just what he’d been told.

Across from him Donatello leaned in trying to reassure him. “Obviously I’ll do some research and see if there is anything I can do but……for now……I think you’re gunna have to-”

But his words were cut off as Mikey stood up suddenly. Donatello’s eyes widened in shock as he watched the small turtle pant and gasp his sides shaking and heaving as he struggled to breath. Tears were trickling down the sides of his face and Donatello could not help but notice just how pale his skin had gotten.

“N……no…….” Mikey’s voice was weak. Slowly he began to shake his head, the rest of his body begin to shake too. “no…..no….no…..NO…….” This was all a dream. That’s what it was, it was one really long really detailed, REALLY horrible dream. None of this was real. Any moment he’d opened his eyes and be back in his room in his lair with HIS family.

He clamped his eyes willing himself to wake up from the dream. It wasn't th first time he'd forced himself to wake up. but when he opened his eyes nothing had changed, he was still here, sitting in a kitchen that wasn't his being stared at by creatures who may have looked like his family but…..

*SMACK*

Pain lanced through the side of Mikey’s face as he slapped himself. Forcing himself to work through the pain Mikey moved, readying to slap himself again when he felt someone grab his wrist.

“WHAT THE SHELL ARE YOU DOING!?”

He struggled against the grip, trying to throw off Raphael who had grabbed his arm and the back of his head and was now restraining him from hitting himself again. He couldn't stop the tears that were running down the sides of his face. “This is a dream. It’s not…….IT’S NOT REAL!”

He shouted the words, continuing to struggle as Raphael’s grip on him tightened. He had to wake up. His brothers would be mad at him if he slept for to long. It was all a dream. He had to wake up. He…..had……

Raphael grunted in surprise as Mikey’s body went limp, seemingly to crumple in on itself. Nervously Raphael looked to his brothers unsure of what to do, but his attention was drawn back to Mikey as the young turtle let out a sob. “No……no…….this is wrong……it’s all wrong…….”

Chewing his lip Raphael made up his mind, pulling the young turtle’s body against his own in what he hoped was a reassuring hug. “Hey, listen. Everything will be ok.”

He felt Mikey shake his head. “No……it’s all wrong…….”

Biting his lip Raph shifted, pulling back while at the same time kneeling down so he was level with Mikey’s face. “Hey….listen to me…..”

When Mikey didn’t respond Raphael gave him a gentle shake before speaking in a firmer voice. “LISTEN TO ME.”

He watched as Mikey’s eyes flickered up to connect with him. Smiling at the small turtle Raphael continued. “I know……I know things seem pretty bad right now. But……but we’ll fix this ok? I promise we’ll fix this. We’ll get you back home where you belong. Ok?”

He watched as in front of him Mikey sniffed loudly but nodded. “O…..ok.”

Raph's smile widened. “Good. And in the mean time we’ll do whatever we can to make you feel welcome. Isn’t that right guys?”

As he spoke Raphael glanced up at Donnie and Leo who all nodded.

Looking back to Mikey, Raphael had been about to speak when he froze. Raphael swallowed, his throat having gone suddenly dry as he continued to look into the startling blue eyes that were gazing up at him. Those eyes…….they were…….so similar to Michelangelo's; same shade, same shape, even the flecks of dark blue that dotted them were the same. It almost……looked like…..

Biting his lip Raphael forced himself to think. No, no this was not Michelangelo; not THEIR Michelangelo at any rate. “Why…..” Raphael’s voice shook slightly. “Why don't we show you around the lair?”

He watched as in front of him Mikey looked nervously around before nodding slowly. “O…..ok.”

Smiling at the smaller turtle Raphael stood up, his eyes connecting with Leo’s for a moment, passing a silent communication between them. Will you do it?

In response Leo stepped forward, reaching out to touch Mikey’s shoulder. “Follow me. I’ll show you around.”

Raphael bit his lip as Mikey glanced nervously at him, the young turtle’s face filled with uncertainty and a small amount of fear before nodding and moving to follow Leo who walked off in the direction of the dojo.

Slowly moving Raphael stood up, leaning against the kitchen counter slightly.

He felt Donatello move in, his hand coming to tentatively touch Raphael’s shoulder.

“Hey…….what’s wrong?” Donnie’s words were filled with concern.

Continuing to lean against the kitchen counter Raphael remained silent for a few moments; his head turned as he watched Leonardo leading Mikey away. Once he was sure the small turtle was out of earshot he spoke. “You……you really think he’s from an alternate dimension?”

Next to him Donatello nodded. “I do. At least that’s the most logical answer I can come up with. Given the limited evidence I have to go on.”

Biting his lip Raphael struggled to find the best way to word the question that was occupying his brain. “Do……do you think…..he’s……like……our…….how ALTERNATE do you think he is?”

Continuing to grip the kitchen counter for support Raphael watched as his brother sighed softly. “I…..I don't know. When he’s calmer maybe we can gently question him about his dimension? But…..as it is right now, I don't think he has the same relationship we have with each other. In fact…….I……I get the feeling his brothers don't treat him very well.”

Raphael bit his lip again, watching as across the lair Leo led Mikey out of the dojo and towards Donnie’s lab. “But…….but he looks so similar. I mean…….yeah he’s shorter but……his eyes……”

Next to him Donatello sighed again. “Raph, this is not OUR Mikey. This Mikey is a completely different person, with his own set of hopes and dreams.”

Raphael sighed sadly. “I know…..I just……”

Next to him Donnie shifted, leaning in to take Raph's hand into his own, while pulling the red turtle into a gentle hug. “I know Raph. We’re all struggling with the same thoughts right now. We all want this Mikey to be exactly the same. And I’m not saying he isn’t close to our Mikey; but until we know more about him……..we can't assume anything.”

Raph nodded slowly. “O…..ok. I just……”

Donnie cut him off, leaning in to gently nuzzle Raph's neck. He knew what Raph was going to say. In truth they had all been thinking it once the shock of mike stumbling back into their lives had worn off. But now was not the time for such questions, not only was it unhelpful but it could quite possibly scare Mikey and make him feel uncomfortable with them around.

For several moments Raphael remained silent before speaking. “….I really…..really…..wanted it to be him. For this whole thing to end and to have Mikey back.”

Nodding, Donnie pressed in, nuzzling Raphael neck in a reassuring and loving way. “I know Raph. I did to. But our Mikey is gone, and now another Mikey needs our help. Ok?”

Raph nodded. “Ok.”

MEANWHILE

Following behind Leo, Mikey stopped as they came to a small ow of 4 doors. “And these are our rooms. Donnie’s is first….” Mikey nodded as he looked at the well kept door. “…and this is Raph's….” Mikey could not help but smile as he found Raph's door had a few small cracks in it. most likely from the times Raphael had been mad and slammed it in anger. “…..and this one is mine……” again Mikey smiled, Leo’s door looked exactly as he expected it to be, polished and well kept without any signs of damage. “…..and this is…….”

Leo’s voice trailed off as they came to the fourth and final door in the group. Mikey watched as Leo slowly reached out, running his hand along the wooden surface of the door. After a moment Leo turned to look at him. “This…….will be your room. Ok?”

Mikey nodded. “O….ok.”

He watched as Leo glanced back at the door, his eyes roving over the simple wooden surface for a few moments before reaching out to touch the handle. Following Leo inside Mikey found himself standing In a small room that for the most part was empty. A bed had been made up and pushed against the far wall. Next to it a small lamp and nightstand had been set up, but other than a few boxes stacked in the corner, the room was bare.

“Sor….sorry it’s kind of…..depressing.” Leo’s voice was sheepish as he spoke. “I……we don't get many guests down here.”

But Mikey shook his head. “No….no it’s perfect. Thank you……”

Walking past Leo, Mikey touched the blankets that lay on top of his bed, noting they felt pretty close to how his own blankets felt; even if they weren’t adorned with the images of comic book superheroes.

Turning back Mikey smiled to Leo who remained where he was, watching him. biting his lip Mikey tried to think of something to say that would end this uncomfortable silence that had fallen between them. “so……..”

“Can I ask you something?” Leo’s words were calm and cool.

Nodding Mikey watched as Leo shifted a little before speaking. “What……what are we……I mean me and Donnie and Raph like…..in your dimension?”

Mikey bit his lip as he considered the question for a few moments. “Well……you’re all a bit……well for one thing you’re all shorter.”

Mikey smiled as Leo chuckled at his words. It was true; in Mikey’s home dimension Leo was still taller than him but only by an inch. But the Leo standing in front of him now was easily 2 inches taller than he was. “And……well……..Leo’s very calm. He never loses his cool. He always meditating or training. Raph……..he’s…….”

Leo watched as Mikey’s shoulder slumped slightly as he spoke. “He’s always angry. He’s always yelling or wanting to fight something. He and Leo fight all the time……but they get mad when……when I try to break them up.”

That last part came out so softly that if lo hadn’t been able to read Mikey’s lips he probably would not have heard what he’d said. He watched as Mikey’s shoulders slumped a little bit more. “And Donnie……he’s a genius. He can build anything. Sometimes……..sometimes he gets mad at me. Tells me to go away cause I’m bothering him…..or cause I’m too stupid to help.

Leo bit his lip, his hands balling into a fist at Mikey’s words. But he forced himself to relax, to not show the anger that welled up in his gut as he watched Mikey’s shoulders slump a bit more. Taking several deep breaths Leo moved, walking forward to pull the sad turtle in front of him into a soft hug. He felt Mikey tense up for a moment as Leo’s hands wrapped around his shoulders. But after a few moment Mikey relaxed and after a few more moments returned the hug.

Giving Mikey's body a gentle squeeze Leo spoke. “Well……we’re not like that. Well ok, I’m pretty much that way. And Raph and I do fight sometimes…….but Raph won’t get mad at you, and Donnie will never call you stupid. I promise you that.”

He felt Mikey shift, pulling back slightly to look at him. “Are……are you sure?”

Leo nodded. “Yeah. I’m sure.”

He watched the complex waves of emotion ripple through Mikey’s face. Watched as hope, fear, uncertainty, and affection crossed Mikey’s face. After a few moments Mikey spoke. “I promise I won’t be in the way. I won’t bother or annoy anyone. I promise.”

Sighing softly Leo pulled Mikey back into another hug. “Mikey……..” it started Leo to realize that he was shaking, his grip on the smaller turtle’s body quivering slightly as he held him. He squeezed Mikey tighter, party to help reassure the small turtle but also to hopefully hide just how emotional Leo was feeling at the moment.

He could feel Mikey shaking to, as the smaller turtle spoke. “I’ll be good. I…….I promise I’ll be good.”

He squeezed Mikey tighter, willing the smaller turtle to understand. He wished his other brothers were here. They would be able to hel-

As if on cue Leo felt two bodies press against theirs, adding to the hug as two pairs of arms wrapped around them both. They stay like this for a while, gently hugging Mikey, willing him to understand just how much they loved him, despite all that had happened.

Slowly Mikey’s shaking stopped, his sides becoming calm. He did his best to breath, inhaling and exhaling as master splinter had showed him to do whenever he was overly upset or emotional. This……this was nice. The hug……it felt good.

His brother’s normally didn’t hug him much. Yes when they’d been young they had all hugged and cuddle together, but as they had grown older such physical connections had dwindled until they were almost nonexistent. Now the only real contact they had with each other was during sparing, or if one of them got injured had had to be helped to the infirmary. In truth the only HUGS Mikey could regularly count on was the one armed hugs he got from his brothers on his birthday.

His eyes drifted closed as the scent of the brother’s washed over him. In someways they were very close to how Mikey’s brothers smelled. Leo’s scent was still musky with a tinge a sweet, Donnie still smelled like the pages of an old book, and Raph still had the sweaty musk about him. But in other ways they were VERY different. Leo’s scent had some kind of flowering air about it, perhaps lavender of ginseng? Donnie carried with him a faint smell of chemicals. And Raph's scent was mixed in with the smells of gasoline and oil.

He inhaled again, filling his lungs with those scents, making another soft churr ripple through his body. He felt them shift, pressing in just a little bit tighter, making their scents just a bit stronger as they filled his nostrils.

Almost as if he were in a dream he opened his eyes. Next to him he could feel Leo’s breath ghosting across the side of his face and neck. Slowly he shifted, turning to look sideways at Leo, who’s had turned his head so he was looking at Mikey.

Gently Mikey bit his lip. Leo looked so…….perfect. It might not have been HIS Leo, but…..

Again Mikey bit his lip. Leo’s lips were so close. It would have been so easy to lean in and touch them, to kiss them as he’d always secretly wanted to do. Vaguely he wondered; were Leo’s lips soft or rough? Would Leo pull away from him in disgust or would he……..

He felt his body move on its own, his head moving forward. He felt Leo’s gaze upon him, watching him; and silently he prayed. Let me have this…….just this one……..please.

But the rest of Mikey’s thoughts were cut off a loud growl came from Raphael who blushed slightly as everyone pulled apart and turned to look at him. Smiling sheepishly Raph spoke. “Sorry…..it’s almost dinner time and I haven’t had anything since breakfast.”

Instantly something in Mikey’s mind clicked. It was almost dinner time, which meant he needed start fixing dinner! “S…sorry Raph. I’ll dinner ready soon. I promise.”

Leo felt his eyes widen as Mikey rushed passed them and out of the room, as though desperate to leave. Glancing at Donnie Leo noted that Donnie too seem surprised by Mikey’s reacting to Raph's comment.

Without saying a word the brothers move, leaving Mikey’s room and moving to watch as the small turtle rushed into the kitchen and began to pull open cupboards and drawer, only to freeze when he found that things were not where they expected them to be.

They watched as Mikey’s began to panic, rushing to pull open more cupboards and drawers with greater urgency. They could see the look of fear beginning to spread across Mikey’s face.

Nervously Donnie looked to Leo and Raph before stepping forward. “Mikey?”

He turned at the sound of his name, his heartbeat pounding as he found the brothers all looking at him. He bit his lip, it was wrong, it was wrong; he should have had dinner ready by now. “S….sorry Donnie. I’ll hurry. Ok?”

But Donnie shook his head. “No…..no I was just……..would you like any help?”

His body seemed to freeze, at Donnie’s words as his brain struggled to understand. “H….h….help?”

In front of him Donnie nodded. “Yes. Would you like some help in fixing dinner?”

He watched as Mikey’s mouth opened and closed without any words coming out. Donnie felt his heart clench slightly as he watched the young turtle struggle to speak. Seizing the moment , Donnie slowly moved forward so he was in the kitchen with Mikey who watched his, his eyes wide as though he were afraid.

Kneeling down Donnie spoke again. “What are you looking for Mikey?”

He watched as Mikey swallowed a few times before managing to speak. “The knives and cutting board.”

Nodding Donnie moved, reaching back to pull out the cutting board which they kept tucked between the wall and the microwave, before pulling open a drawer and producing a small knife before turning to set them both down on the counter. “Here.”

Turning to look at Mikey Donnie spoke again. “doesn’t…..Don’t your brothers ever help you fix dinner?”

Such an activity was common amongst the brothers. At the end of the day they all pitched in to help make dinner. But Mikey was shaking his head. “No. Leo…..is normally off training with Splinter. Donnie is always working in his lab. And Raph…….doesn’t like to be bothered.”

Again Donnie bit his lip, this time out of anger instead of sadness. It was really starting to bother him just how much the alternate versions of him and his brothers seemed to take advantage of Mikey.

Taking a deep breath Donnie did his best to hide his anger, instead smiling down at Mikey. “Well, WE’RE…..” Donnie gestured to himself, Leo and Raph. “….different. we always cook dinner together. So how about we help you?”

He watched as Mikey swallowed nervously before nodding slowly. “O….ok…….but…..are you sure?”

Behind him Donnie felt his brothers move in, nodding as they stepped into the kitchen. “We’re sure Mikey. Now….what is it you were planning to make?”

Again Mikey swallowed nervously, “um…….I was thinking spaghetti. But only if it’s ok with you.”

Raph nodded. “Yeah. We all love spaghetti.”

They all watched as Mikey shifted nervously, looking at the brothers. “O….ok.”

Smiling down at Mikey Leo spoke. “Just tell us what to do.”

He watched as Mikey shifted, before speaking softly. “um……Leo why don't you get the water ready and boiling? Donnie….could you get out the sauce and start mixing it up? and Raph, why don't you start cleaning the noodles?”

The brothers all nodded and moved, going to the tasks Mikey had given them.

45 MINUTES LATER

Mikey watched nervously as in next to him Leo, Raph, Donnie and master splinter began to eat. Mentally he prayed everything tasted good. It had been awkward to have help preparing the meal. Several times he had been forced to examine their work to be sure things were the way they needed to be.

“Mikey…..”

Flinching slightly Mikey turned to find Leo watching him. biting his lip Mikey spoke, doing his best to sound calm. “Y…yes?”

He watched as Leo smiled at him. “It’s really good.”

A wave of relief washed through Mikey as Donnie and Raph both nodded in agreement while master splinter nodding in agreement. Letting out a small sigh of relief Mikey looked down at his own plate before slowly moving to eat.

As he took his first bite of pasta he could not help but wonder; just because things were different here…….did that mean they couldn’t be……better?