The feeling of air slapping against his skin, was the most plausible sensory to the orange masked turtle. Soon he could be met with the ground with a giant thud, followed by a crushing impact that would end everything.

Yet, however, Mikey felt his body being jerked as the air was knocked out from his lungs. He coughed, daring to open his eyes to find that somehow he didn't hit the ground, but was dangling midair.

How? How was this even possible?

Twisting his head around to see a hand grasping onto his belt with a vice-like grip, Mikey couldn't help but to sigh. Why did he always have to fail? And why did his brothers have to save him once again? Especially since he didn't want to saved!

"L-let me g-go..." he croaked, feeling tears weld up in his eyes as he felt himself being lifted up, with two other pairs of hands reaching out to grasp him. As much as he tried to thrash against him, he soon was embraced tightly and completely surrounded so he couldn't escape. "I didn't want to be saved..." Mikey's voice cracked, tears spilling from his eyes.

"Mikey, we love you," Leo spoke softly and that's when the youngest noticed how distraught his brothers looked. Tears were overflowing and streaking down their cheeks, as they sobbed clutching him tightly in the middle of the group hug. And behind them Master Splinter was also seen, tears too being evident as he joined in the embrace.

And that simple phrase of 'we love you,' left the orange masked turtle sobbing as he clutched tightly onto himself. He wanted to rake his fingers into his dig, but found that he couldn't do so when Donnie was holding his hands.

Those chocolate irises gazed at him with such worry, that Mikey knew that Donnie read his thoughts like a book. His brothers weren't going to let him go anywhere... much less even hurt himself.

"Why, Mikey?" Raph spoke, clinging onto him.

Mikey sighed, gazing down as he could feel his heart clench painfully. "I just want the pain to end..."

"We don't ever want to lose you, Mikey," Donnie added, rubbing the back of his shell. "You are our sunshine and we love you."

Mikey wanted to believe it, but these thoughts just wouldn't disperse. He didn't know how long he had been there out on the rooftop crying out his heart. But, eventually he was taken back home and back into Donnie's lab.

"We can help you Mikey, you have to trust us. You need to tell us everything that is on your mind."

And Mikey did so, having taken a seat in one chair in Donnie's lab. He told them everything... every dark thought that he had to the deepest feelings of his soul and heart. The moment when he was kicked off the team, and how he couldn't recognize himself anymore. He felt worthless, and that everything would be better if he was gone.

And this time, Mikey could feel his brothers hugging him all at once again. He didn't mind, as it made a sense of warmth soothe him momentarily.

"You are not worthless, Mikey and you never have and never will be," he felt Leo lift up his chin, considering that he couldn't look anywhere else but at the floor. "You are our brother, and you are precious to us. We're very sorry for our words and actions towards you, for we never meant to hurt you. But you most realize that you are loved."

At that moment the dam broke once again. As tired as Mikey was of crying, he couldn't hold it back as he choked, tears cascading down his cheeks. They really did love him, and cared about him... despite how it felt like they didn't... but in that moment, Mikey felt one impression: He needed to stay, for his brothers and it wasn't his time to go.

Donnie suggested that night that Mikey go to bed early, since overdosing on pills did quite a number on him. The orange masked turtle didn't resist, knowing fully well that he would never left alone at this point.

He did feel like a failure for not being able to actually kill himself, but perhaps maybe he could survive living through the pain with the help from his family.

Mikey leaned back, allowing himself to close his eyes as Donnie inserted another IV to his arm. He flinched, grimacing a bit until he began dozy and drifted off into sleep.

"He truly is our precious little Ototo," Leo commented, smiling. Raph nodded his head, placing his hand onto Mikey's shoulder.

"And from now on, we will be with him every step of the way," Donnie added. Master Splinter smiled, watching the sweet scene of all the brothers sleeping beside Mikey's cot. They weren't going to leave his side anytime soon.

The mutant rat walked to the open doorway, closing it gently as he sat down in front of it. Just in case Mikey tried to escape he at least would be able to prevent him from doing so. With that, Master Splinter began to meditate as he tried to seek out Mikey's aura.

INTO THE DEPTHS OF THE MIND

Mikey gazed through the endless void of darkness. It was still dark as ever, although he could see a faint orange light flickering in the darkness. He trudged towards it, finding that same orb shaped like a heart that was blackened. Only this time, he could see a faint orange hue radiating from it.

Was this it? Could he actually rid himself of this darkness that plagued his mind and heart?

"Michelangelo," he turned, hearing his Sensei's call. With one nod, he decided to let him in. And that familiar rat mutant appeared beside him. His first reaction was to pull him into a tight hug.

"My son, I love you." Mikey found himself burying his head into his shoulder. Even though this wasn't in the real world, it still felt real. And Master Splinter's presence was indeed real. While his body was resting, at least Sensei could reach out to his soul.

"Is it really possible Sensei?" Mikey asked the question that had been on his mind all day. Master Splinter pulled back, gazing at the faintly glowing heart orb.

"Indeed Michelangelo," he replied, reaching out to gently touch the orb as it warmed slightly to the touch. Mikey himself could feel a little spark flickering inside. "The light will come back, giving back everything, the darkness stole."

Mikey nodded his head, a hopeful expression appearing on his face. Maybe he could actually be healed, and would find the right way to deal with this pain.

"Mikey!" His head jerked, turning around to find all three of his brothers rushing over towards him.

"What? How? But I thought you dudes were asleep!" Mikey gasped, feeling himself being tackled into a hug.

Master Splinter chuckled, stepping back as he gazed at the orb that began to glow little more. Even if it wasn't much, it at least was a huge first step.

"We are," Donnie tried to explain, "but we all sensed your energy even if it was faint and decided to come here. While your body is resting, I realized that it's important for your mind to rest too."

"Donnie is right," Leo nodded, smiling. Mikey blinked several times, confused at first until Raph reached out to touch his forehead with is palm.

"You're our Knucklehead," Raph grinned widely. Those words... Mikey found that they didn't hurt, but rather it left a twinkling feeling that resonated around him.

"What's going on? I don't understand," Mikey questioned, "why are you all here in my own mind? It's too dark..."

"Like that will stop us," Leo gazed at both Donnie and Raph. "And besides, we promised you that we will always be by your side from now on and forever. You are our Ototo after all."

Mikey himself could feel himself tear up at that sentence, although it wasn't exactly physical. His brothers stepped closer as Leo suggested that perhaps they could share some of their fondest memories with him.

Raph and Donnie nodded their heads, following Leo to the heart orb as they touched it one by one, sending their energy into it to help strengthen the faint light.

Mikey gasped at the light that entered, feeling it burn a little more brightly as memories flashed before his mind. Memories of himself with each of his brothers, either helping him or protecting him from his nightmares when they were young. And even phrases of: "I love you, Mikey."

"Perhaps this will soothe your soul and mind as well," Donnie finished as Mikey felt the darkness briefly being pushed back, replaced with fond and precious memories of the love that the brothers shared with him, including with Master Splinter.

And for once that night, Mikey found himself falling into a deep and peaceful sleep, without a single care in the world.

IN THE REAL WORLD: TWO MONTHS LATER

Ever since that one particular day, Mikey had felt so refreshed. Of course, the darkness always came back plaguing his mind, but the turtle had learned that he needed to tell his brothers whatever dark thought had came to his mind, including urges. That meant even the cutting and the urge to hurt himself, for it wasn't easy.

It got to the point that Mikey had to wear long sleeve bands that covered the entire length of his arm to the tip of his fingers. It did help, at least to keep him from picking at the scabs of the cuts on his wrists. And with the eating problem, he slowly started to eat small amounts at first just as Donnie had suggested.

He wouldn't say that his depression had gone away, but he at least was making progress. Donnie told him that it would take time for him to fully heal anyway, however long that may be.

And Leo decided to help Mikey to train to become even better, to the point that he was welcomed back onto the team again. And needless to say, Mikey never felt such joy to hear those words. He was still healing, but the support from his bros was always there. And he did find it odd that Raph even somehow managed to stop teasing him, at least in a bad way. The only teasing he would ever do, was gently teasing like giving him a soft noogie or tickling him.

Raphael even completely stopped calling him a 'Bonehead,' considering the hothead knew how fragile Mikey's state of mind was. And his bros were always careful and watchful of Mikey, for he was grateful that they at least were trying to make it up to him.

Those pains that Mikey felt, they were beginning to slowly fade or lessen in intensity. And every week, Mikey had to go into the lab to get therapy sessions from Donnie of course, including from April's dad considering he was a scientist who also studied in Psychology of the brain. April's dad would perform certain psychological experiments to find environments that allured and soothed Mikey's mind.

It was strange having a lamp in his room that would glow with bright orange light in the dark, but the psychological effect of the color helped to soothe Mikey so he could sleep better through the night.

April of course, would always come over to visit along with Casey. The two of them always brought pizza for Mikey to which the youngest was starting to love again. He felt like his old self was beginning to return and it felt wonderful.

And as much as Mikey hated having to swallow antidepressant pills every morning and night, he was still faring well. He could feel his progress growing inside his own heart and mind. Several times he would meditate with Master Splinter into the depths of mind, seeking out his aura to find it glowing brighter every day. Master Splinter was also there, to listen to anything that was on Mikey's mind.

The turtle was grateful for how supportive everyone was. And for once, he was glad that his brothers saved him, for he now wanted to live.

Mikey smiled, dangling his legs over the dock as his bros sat beside him. They decided to go out topside for the evening as the sun began to set across the harbor. Brilliant rays of orange and pink danced across the water's surface and into the sky.

The orange masked turtle couldn't help but to lean into the body that was closest to him, and that happened to be Raph. He leaned the side of his cheek against his shoulder as Raph wrapped an arm around him, followed by Donnie and Leo who placed his hand onto his right shoulder, sitting behind the youngest turtle.

"We love you Mikey," they said in unison, huddling close together.

"I love you too, dudes," Mikey smiled, his eyes twinkling with that little sparkle as he gazed at all of his brothers. They smiled, hugging each other before gazing out towards the sunset.

He was happy to have such wonderful brothers, ones who would never leave his side.

And tada! That was the last chapter, and I hope you enjoyed reading this story!

Let me know what you thought of this, I would love to hear your comments and feedback.

Don't forget my fellow readers: STAY RAD! Booyakasha!