Snow was falling and covering the ground in a thick blanket of white. It fell down in white flakes as the beauty of New York made what was going on down in the sewers seem like it wasn't a thing as Mikey walked down the street in his trench coat he felt the Ivey cold air rush over him like a warm welcome to an old friend.
He was going to get food for the guys as his faced showed the tiredness and aged look he got from having to take on the responsibility of being the families care taker and provider. Mikey was the youngest of the four brothers after all and hadn't aged with grace at all. Life was hard and he wouldn't let it show, but he was done with being bossed around by his two older brothers and pushed to the side like he was nothing.

How many times had he thought about shredders offer after raph had suffered his accident? how many times had he thought that he could change what was going on in his life it for good? He couldn't bring himself to take the offer no matter how much he thought about it and how much he yearned to get an escape from the pain that was down in his home, and how the ghost of happiness long gone still lingered in every room.

The offer had gone something like this

"You stupid turtle, you would be wise to bow down to me now and take your less harsher fate or I will kill you right now and I promise it won't be swift." shredder said in his menacing tone as he had Mikey pinned to a wall and was holding his sharp, cold, steal blade to Mikey's throat

Mikey gulped trying to make himself less scarred than he was but failed miserably at keeping a poker face "I rather die then be with you shredder." he said as he shook a bit

"That can be arranged." shredder said as he started to put pressure on the blade that was on his throat and just before he cut the skin and his brother burst in

"Drop the blade shredder and nobody gets hurt." raph said snarling at shredder

"Raph don't please this is between me and him I'm fine." Mikey pleaded and raph looked at him shaking his head

"No Mikey not going to happen why did you even come here anyways your not supposed to go out alone." Said raph as shredder laughed
"You turtles always make me laugh how your willing to lay your little, worthless lives down for each other like they actually matter." Shredder said as he let go and Mikey collapsed to the ground and tried to get up but was to weak to
"Alright shredder I'm giving you one last chance let us walk away and no one gets hurt." Raph said as shredder drew his blade
" we finish this now and see how much your words stand up to your skill." Shredder said voice menacing
"Raph, please don't."  Mikey said as his voice was weak and not strong
"Mikey I have to." Raph said and the fight began
Shredder slashed at raph as he dogged it. Raph went back at shredder and this went on for several minutes before shredder had cornered Raph.
"I have you right where I want you weak turtle give up now and you can be with me." Shredder said and raph refused
"Never shredder, I never be like you or your foot and you can take that to your grave." Raph said and shredder chuckled and evil chuckle that came from the pits of darkness
"Are you sure it's my grave we will be digging turtle?" He asked as his blade slashed raph and he fell
Mikey tried to jump up but could barely move. He was too slow before Mikey could get there shredder had raph pinned.
"I'm going to give you one last chance turtle give in to my army both of you, or change your mind and you can be grate." Shredder said as Mikey made his way over to behind shredder
"No, never I will never be yours." Raph spat and that's when things changed
Shredder hit Raphael head knocking him out as Mikey pulled shredder to the ground knocking him out.
Mikey ran to raph and then picked him up rushing him to the lair.
When raph came to everything was gone from his mind and he knew nothing. The turtles felt useless and like they had lost a bit of their souls.
**********************************
Now Mikey couldn't help but think of the pain that was going on in his family as he walked home with some groceries that he had got. He figured that at some point the feeling that it was his fault would pass, but it never did and now he felt like a failure.
He still remembered bring raph home and the aftermath of everything. He remembered how Leo was so mad at first and told him that he should have never left that raph was hurt because of him.
Still, needless to say Mikey was broken they all were. Only if his brothers knew why he left that night. The real reason he had left.
It wasn't because he was looking for a fight. It was because of something else. Something that Mikey would keep in his soul hidden for a while.