Out of Place (CHAPTER 2)

CHAPTER 2

It felt like he was floating. As though someone had taken his body and laid it out in a pool of shallow water. Slowly he felt the world change, the subtle numbness that had helped him to ‘float’ replaced by a warm softness.

His response was automatic, a small churr of approval rumbling from his throat as he squirmed and wiggled, trying to cover more of his body with the soft warmth that was so comforting. He gripped the softness, pulling it in closer, wrapping it around his body until he could feel nothing but it.

Around him he could hear echoes, voices; people talking. But he ignored them; the softness was all he needed to focus on. It was all that mattered right now. But the voices were getting louder now, their words starting to make sense as though the person who was speaking was coming closer.

“Is he a clone?” “Where did he come from?” “What’s going on?”

He tried to push the voices away, trying to burry himself in the soft comforting warmth that was starting to slip away. He whimpered as he felt the warmth begin to ebb away; silently pleading with it not to leave.

The voices were growing louder now, but there was more now. He became aware of a dull throbbing in his head, and his stomach let out a loud growl as he began to realize just how hungry he was.

The last of the warmth left him, making him whimper as……

“My son?”

Slowly he opened his eyes, blinking as he found his vision blurry. Slowly he moved, using what felt like a massive amount of strength to turn his head and look in the direction the voice had spoken from. Continuing to blink he looked blearily at master splinter who was sitting next to him.

“Ma…..mast…..” but his words were cough off as his words aggravated his throat making him cough. He hunched over, coughing and gagging as he struggled to rewet his throat which had become impossibly dry. Gasping for air Mikey moaned as his coughing subsided slightly. Groaning Mikey managed to whisper, “W…..w…..water.”

He watched, his vision still blurry as splinter moved, picking up a small cup of water before leaning in to press and tip the edge of the cup against Mikey’s lips. He drank greedily, taking several large mouthfuls of water. As he did so he felt some water trickle down his chin. He groaned as the water rushed down helping to soothe his dry throat.

Soon the cup was empty. Leaning back Mikey groaned as he allowed his eyes to drift closed for a moment. Next to him splinter set the cup down before speaking. “My son……are you alright?”

Mikey nodded. “Y…..yes…….I……but…..I had the weirdest dream…….leo, and Donnie kept saying I had died. It…..id didn’t like it.”

Next to him he felt his father sigh. “My son……”

Nodding slowly Mikey spoke. “I know splinter. It’s a stupid thing to dream but-”

“It’s true.” Splinter’s words made Mikey’s eyes widen. Turning Mikey stared at splinter, watching as his vision slowly became to sharpen and clear to reveal a face that was much greyer than he remembered it being.

Mikey groaned. “No…….no this is all wrong.”

He made no attempt to hold back the tears that began to drip down the sides of his face. this couldn't  be real. Next to him splinter spoke. “My son…..”

But Mikey shook his head. “No…..don’t……I want to go home……..I don't like it here.”

Next to him splinter shifted, reaching out to touch Mikey’s shoulder. Looking down at splinter’s hand Mikey found that unlike his own father’s fur which was brown and black; this splinter’s fur was most grey with only a few flecks of brown. After a moment splinter gave his shoulder and gentle squeeze before speaking. “I know not how you came to be here. I don't know if it was an accident, or fate, or some kind of magic. But I DO know this, I will do everything within my power to help you. Do you understand?”

Mikey sniffed but nodded. Watched as splinter gave him a weak smile before continuing. “Now…..Donatello wishes to speak with you. Do you feel well enough to speak with him?”

Taking a deep breath Mikey nodded. Again Splinter smiled at him. “Very well. I shall go and collect him. I will return.”

Nodding Mikey watched as splinter stood up, leaning heavily on his cane. As splinter moved away from him, Mikey felt his eyes widen as he found that splinter had seemingly shrunk and was now probably the same height he was. He watched as splinter slowly moved towards the door that led from the room. As he reached the doorway splinter opened the door and stuck his head out of the room. “Donatello please come.”

Mikey watched as the aged rat stepped aside allowing Donatello to step into the room before closing the door behind him. he shrank back slightly as Donatello fixed him with a firm gaze.

Shifting Mikey sat up, pulling his knees against his chest as he watched Donatello step forward and take a seat in a nearby chair. “H……hello.”

Mikey bit his lip, noting that Donnie seemed to be about as nervous as he was right now. Swallowing nervously Mikey nodded slowly. “H…..h……hello.”

He watched as Donnie continued to look at him, his curious eyes roaming over Mikey’s defensive stance before speaking softly. “How…..how are you feeling?”

He watched as across from him Mikey shifted, squeezing his knees tighter against his chest. “I…..I want to go home.”

Nodding slowly Donnie spoke. “and this……isn’t your home?”

Mikey shook his head. “N….no.”

Donnie nodded. “What….what is your home like?”

He watched as Mikey shifted before speaking. “It’s……it’s not……here. It’s………not……….”

Donnie watched as more tears began to fall from Mikey’s eyes. He reacted out of instinct, moving from his chair to hug his brother. He hated it when Mikey cried. It stirred some instinctual need to comfort his youngest brother.

But the moment he left his chair Mikey recoiled, whimpering and shrinking back as though scared he was going to be hurt.

It took all of Donatello’s strength to make himself step back and sit back down in his chair. After several moments splinter spoke from his spot off to the side. “Donatello…….perhaps it would be best if we moved on to another subject.”

Biting his lip Donnie nodded, searching for another topic. “Wh….what is the last thing you remember?”

He watched as Mikey shifted sniffing softly before frowning as he tried to remember. “I……I remember…….a few…..weeks ago…….I…….I brought you soup………but you…..got mad at me and told me……..” Donnie felt his heart clench painfully as Mikey’s shoulders slumped slightly as his head dipped sadly. “…..you told me to go away. That I was too dumb to understand how important your work was.”

Taking a deep breath Donnie did his best to keep himself seated. Never in his life had he called any of his brothers dumb. Yes maybe once or twice when he had been a child and not able to express his frustrations, but not since he’d become older. He knew his words could hurt his family, so he took particular care to choose his words carefully.

Taking another breath Donnie spoke. “Then what?”

Across from him Mikey shook his head. “I……that’s it…..that’s the last thing I can remember.”

Nodding slowly Donnie began to think. “Can…….can you remember what I was working on?”

He watched as again Mikey’s brow furrowed as he struggled to remember. After a moment Mikey looked up at him. “It was a door.”

Donnie cocked his head. “A door?”

Mikey bit his lip but nodded. “It’s……..the kraang use it. It lets them leave dimension X and come into our dimension.”

Donnie felt his eyes widen. Leaning back in his chair Donnie could not help but let out a kind of relieved giggle. Things were starting to make sense now. Across from him Mikey was looking nervously at him. “W….what?”

Taking a deep breath Donnie spoke. “It……I think I know what happened But………” chewing on his lip Donnie looked at the turtle laying in front of him. His eyes roved over this Mikey’s smaller body, his skin which appeared to be more like normal skin and less like the callus scaled flesh they all had. He could see the fatigue in the younger turtle’s eyes and Donnie could easily guess just how tired Mikey was, especially if his suspicions were correct.

Sighing softly Donnie spoke in what he hoped was a reassuring tone. “Mikey….do you feel well enough to stand up?”

He watched as Mikey’s eyes flicked up to look at him confused for a moment before nodding slowly. “Ye….yes. Why?”

Donatello was silent for a moment; he could feel splinter’s eyes watching him as he chose his words carefully. “I want you to be present when I explain to my brothers what is going on. Would that be alright?”

Slowly Mikey nodded. “Yeah……ok.”

Nodding Donnie bit his lip before continuing. “but…..before we talk to the others…….I need something from you.”

Mikey cocked his head to the side, “Wh….what?”

Donnie smiled as pleasantly as he could before speaking. “I need a small sample of your blood.”

He watched as the young turtle’s eyes widened and he shrank back in fear. Putting his hands up Donnie spoke, hoping to reassure Mikey. “I promise it won’t hurt; and it will help me to know for sure if my suspicions are true.”

He watched as in front of him Mikey shifted uncomfortably for several moments before responding. “Do…..do you promise it won’t hurt?”

Smiling Donnie nodded. “Yes I promise. And with it I’ll know with near certainty about what has happened to you.”

He watched, slowly studying the small turtle in front of him as Mikey continued to shift uncomfortably for several more moments before responding. As Mikey spoke his voice quivered in fear. “O……ok.”

Smiling Donnie moved, turning around to pull open a drawer from his desk before producing a small syringe and needle. Turning back Donnie watched as Mikey recoiled slightly, his eyes flickering towards splinter who seemed to instantly understand what was needed of him.

Moving in, splinter reached out, carful to move slowly as he touched Mikey’s hand, squeezing it reassuringly. He could feel the small turtle shaking as Donnie moved closer.

Gently splinter moved, rubbing the young turtle’s arm in the manner that he’d once used to calm his youngest son, whenever he was scared.

“Shhhhhhh everything will be-” but splinter broke off as the youngest son moved, grabbing a handful of his robes before burying his face against his chest and letting out a pained sob. Biting his lip splinter shifted, looking up at his genius son before moving to wrap both his arms around the obviously terrified turtle that was now desperately clinging to him.

Gently he held the scared turtle, doing his best to soothe him as Donnie reached out and touched his arm. Splinter bit his lip, feeling his heart clench as Michelangelo let out a pained sob and pished his face harder against splinter’s chest.

It was like a trance came over him. Leaning in splinter began to gently nuzzle the young turtle’s head, just as he had done for his own son so many years ago. He began to hum softly, the tune he’d hummed for Michelangelo on those nights when nightmares would leave him scared and trembling.

He watched as Donatello angled Michelangelo’s arm, readying it before moving to……

Splinter’s grip on Michelangelo’s body tightened as Donatello pressed the tip of the needle against his skin.

As the needle pierced his skin Mikey let out a loud whimper. He felt shame well up in his gut as the needle moved deeper and deeper into his body. He was a ninja. He’d been trained to be a shadow warrior. Why then was the sight of a needle enough to reduce him to a sobbing quivering mess? Why couldn't he be brave like Leo or Raph?

Against his will he let out another loud whimper. He could feel the needle under his skin, cold and soulless. It felt wrong, like something had invaded his body and was now looking for the best way to hurt him.

A moment later he let out another sob as a new sensation moved through his arm. He gasped in a mixture of shock and horror as he felt blood slowly begin to leave his arm. He buried his face against splinter’s chest, tears streaming down his face. He could hear splinter humming, the old rats hands gently running and rubbing his head and neck, trying to soothe him.

He felt the shame in his stomach grow. How could splinter look at him now and not think he was a failure? How anyone look at him and not find him pathetic? As those thoughts rushed through his mind he began to cry even harder. He wasn't a failure. He tried, he worked as hard as he could to try and be better but no matter how hard he worked it was never enough.

“I’m…..sorry.” he felt splinter shift slightly, pulling away to look at him.

Splinter looked down at the nearly hysterical young turtle that clung to him. “My son?”

He looked down at the young turtle watching as he struggled to breath, his head tilting up to look at splinter who felt his heart clench painfully. The look of terror and fear filled every part of the Michelangelo’s face as he continued to look up at splinter before…..

“I’m sorry………I’m sorry I’m so…….pathetic……I’m so sorry.”

Splinter felt his hearts break at the young turtle’s words. Leaning in splinter cupped Michelangelo’s face in his hands and spoke in a kind but firm voice. “My son, you are not pathetic. Having fears does not make you pathetic. Do you understand?”

He watched as the young turtle shifted, his eyes flicking down. Reaching out splinter touched his chin, tilting it up so they were once again looking at each other. “Say you understand Michelangelo.”

He watched as the young turtle’s eyes flickered for a moment before his spoke; his voice quivering slightly as he did so. “I……I…..I under….understand.”

Nodding reassuringly at the young turtle splinter glanced up at Donatello who smiled and shifted, removing the needle from Mikey’s skin before setting the blood filled syringe on a nearby table.

Turning back Donatello bit his lip. When they had been younger Mikey had been scared of needles but over the years that fear had lessened into a mere disliking of them. But that obviously not happened with this Mikey, if anything this Mikey appeared to be more scared of needles than before.

It pained Donatello to see his ‘brother’ like this. Regardless of if his suspicions were true or not, he could not get over the fact that he had caused this. It was his fault Mikey was now shaking and crying. Not only that but it was his job to fix it.

Moving forward Donatello slowly leaned in, wrapping his own arms around his father and the younger turtle, adding himself to their hug. He bit his lip, his heart clenching as he realized just how much Mikey was shaking. He did his best to be comforting, holding and cradling Mikey just as he had done so many years ago when they had been children.

Slowly Mikey began to calm down. His trembles became smaller and smaller until finally they stopped. Yet still they remained huddled together in their hug, silently offering Mikey love. He wasn't sure how long they stayed like this, it could have been minutes it could have been hours, it simply didn’t matter.

Regardless of son’s suspicions Splinter could not deny how good it felt to hold his youngest son again. He been there, he’d watched Mikey die, seen the sneer of triumph as Mikey had pushed the button that had set off the bombs Donatello kept in his lab in case they were ever attacked and he needed to destroy his work. At the time it had felt…..unreal, like something out of a dream

But slowly as days, weeks and months had gone by the painful truth had set in. it hadn’t been a dream. Michelangelo really was dead. For a long time they had all struggled with the loss. Raph had become soft filled with a sense of sorrow and despair as though he was holding himself personally responsible for Michelangelo’s death. Leo had become depressed and no amount of training or meditation had helped to ease the burden of guilt he’d put on himself. And Donnie had retreated into his work shop, burying himself in a world of logic and reason in an attempt to distance himself from the world.

Sighing softly splinter shifted, turning his head to look at his genius son. Donatello’s eyes were closed, a look of loving concern covering his face, directed at the young turtle they were both hugging. Vaguely splinter wondered how similar this Michelangelo was to his own. Was he just as energetic and happy? Did he had the save pools of seemingly endless energy? Was he just as kind and compassionate as Michelangelo had been? Did he love his family in the same way?

But a gentle snore was enough to pull splinter from his thoughts. Looking down at the young turtle splinter could not help but smile as he found that Mikey had fallen asleep.

Looking up at his son splinter spoke softly. “perhaps it would be wise to let him sleep.”

Donatello nodded and shifted, pulling away from them, allowing splinter to move and lay the young turtle down on the bed before slowly covering him with the warm blanket he’d used before.

Picking up the syringe of blood Donatello looked at it nervous. Were his suspicions correct? Was it possible that the Michelangelo sleeping in front of them was….from another dimension?

“come my son, let us leave our guest to sleep in peace.”

Nodding to splinter Donnie continued to look at the sleeping turtle for only a moment more before turning and following his father out of the room.