Author's Note: *sigh* Yes, I know. I promise, I was working on the next chapter for "Sugar, Spice, and a Splash of Mutagen", but the words just weren't flowing - weren't connecting. So, I decided to write something else. August is approaching and not only does that mean we're getting closer and closer to the release of the TMNT movie, but that also means I'm gonna be going camping soon. :D And with my FRIENDS! I've only ever been camping with my family so going with just my girlfriends should be a fun, new experience. :) And because I'm so pumped for that, I decided to start out a camping story.

Now, I'm going to be trying something new. Rather than coming up with a plot for a camping story, I've decided to just write a series of little one-shots focusing on the topic of camping. They're going to range from drabbles, to flash fiction, to dialogue-only pieces, and so on and so forth. Each fic will be no short than 100 words and no longer than 1,000 words. Very short, sweet, and to the point ficlets that'll range in rating as well as genre. Nothing will go over the T rating. As for the genres, like I said, there will be various of kinds going from comedy to romance to fluff to horror - hell, I might even throw in some t-cest. Though, like I do with my "Words Unspoken" story, it'll be extremely mild. Don't wanna scare any of you readers away. lol

Alright, I think I've explained enough. Every ficlet will have a camping theme to it and every chapter will be posted with a little bit of info on what it's about, like the pairing (if there is one) and the genre. I have a prompt list stored in my head, but if any of you readers have any suggestions, feel free to let me know and it just might end up in this story. :) I hope this puts you all in the camping mood!

Enjoy!

Flash Fiction: 907 words

Donnie/Mikey

Brotherly Fluff

The whistling howls pierced through his nerves like a pointed syringe.

Body curled tight, Mikey's gaze shifted wildly throughout the inside of the tent, his sleeping bag held firmly just underneath his chin – mouth clamped shut. Eerie shadows frolicked teasingly over the tent, casting images of tree branches hooked and crooked, creating the imagery of elongated claws curling over their sleeping quarters, just waiting for Mikey to close his eyes. He felt his limbs tremble, partly because his sleeping bag was doing nothing to keep him warm and partly because he was scared out of his wits, the wailing winds doing nothing to quell his shaken nerves. Their first day camping and Mikey couldn't even get through the first night? What would his brothers think of him?

Swallowing hard, Mikey slowly lifted himself up into a sitting position and gazed over his brothers. Like he figured, they were all out for the count, but Donnie happened to be the closet one resting next to him, his sleeping bag positioned perfectly in the middle of the tent. Scrambling to his knees, Mikey wormed his way closer toward his older brother.

"Donnie?" He whispered, his body hovering over Donnie's head like an umbrella. "Donnie? Donnie, wake up."

"Mmmph?" Donnie mumbled, his tired eyes cracking open ever so slightly. "Mikey?"

"Hey, you awake?"

"What?"

"I said, are you awake?"

Don blinked at him owlishly. "Did you seriously interrupt my sleeping to ask me such a stupid question?"

"No." He shifted inside his sleeping like a child who just got caught with his hand in the cookie jar. "I interrupted your sleeping because I can't sleep."

"Oh, goody. Now we can suffer together," Don retorted grumpily. He turned over on his side away from his baby brother, his eyes screwed shut, though he could already begin to feel the tiredness in his eyes slowly depleting. "I packed some Melatonin in the first aid kit. Just take some of that and it should knock you out."

"Hey, dude, come on," Mikey pleaded. He tugged at Donnie's shoulder and forced him on his shell again, only to be greeted by Donnie's lovely scowl of frustrated drowsiness. Mikey winced, reaching at the back of his neck and rubbing it nervously, his eyes cast down at the ground. "I-I … I'm not used to any of this. Being outside, out in the open. Hearing all these noises, so … unfamiliar and … and scary…"

"It's just the wind, Mike. It's not going to hurt you," Donnie pointed out, propping himself up on his elbows. "And we all made sure we picked a nice, secluded area. There isn't a campsite for miles."

"That's what I'm afraid of," Mikey whispered, his body tensing the second he heard Raph stir around in his sleeping bag. No doubt, his hotheaded brother would tease him to no end about how he couldn't even sleep the first night of their camping trip. All because the sound of the wind and the fact that if anything were to happen to them, there'd be no sign of help for miles. He figured being out in the open – away from the confined space of the sewers – would be a cool experience. But in the end, it was downright terrifying.

For a moment, Don hadn't said anything. Just simply stared at his baby brother, his face blank and eyes half open. Mikey bit the inside of his cheek, feeling stupid for acting like some kind of five-year-old who was complaining about a monster being under his bed or something. Maybe he was wrong to wake up Donnie. After all, there were times when he didn't have much patience and the fact that he was half-asleep, Mikey was waiting for him to just turn away and force him to go back to his spot and sleep, not wanting to deal with something so … childish.

He tensed when Donnie shifted in his sleeping bag, scooting as close to the folded part as possible and then zipping it open. "Get in," Donnie ordered and Mikey couldn't even recall a moment where he moved so fast.

Squirming his way inside the sleeping bag, he shifted on his side, giving Donnie more room to rest comfortably. Doing the same, Donnie shifted to his side and snuggled against his pillow, his chin practically resting on top of Mikey's shoulder. "If you don't go to sleep after this, I'm smothering you with this pillow until you pass out."

"Y'know, you sound a lot like Raph when you're half-asleep," Mikey chuckled, the warmth of his brother's body heat spreading across his skin. Subtly, he snuggled a little closer, hoping Donnie wouldn't notice or try to shove him back. To his surprise, Donnie actually curled an arm around his body, his shell pressed lightly against his older brother's plastron. It felt nice. Comforting. Almost like a security blanket only warmer and soothing, the sound of Donnie's heartbeat slowly lulling him into a calming slumber.

"Hmmph," Donnie chuckled tiredly. "I'm only mildly offended by that comment, but because it's the middle of the night and we're on a family bonding type of camping trip, I'll let it slide."

"Thanks." Mikey smiled, his eyes drifting shut as sleep began to finally run its course. "For everything, bro."