A/N don't own the turtles... I wrote this last night, at about 11:15, and re-read it this morning, after my driving lesson was cancled, and I'm pretty worn out- so, the reason I told ya all this, was so you could forgive the typos and bad-grammer I didn't spot reading thro it now. I ran spell-check over it tho, so hopefully it's ok... so, I hope ya enjoy! (And I've decided I really like this story, the idea of it, so I'ma keep writing it! There is no sign of writers block- woot! party! oh-yeah, victory dance... hahaha... Yes, I have a victory dance. I don't know if it was in fan-fiction or not, but someone said that; Michaelangelo was a solid believer in appreciating every victory with; a victory dance. Or something like that- anyway, I completely agree with him! even tho my victory dance is ridiculous)

Anyways, I think that's a suitably long authers note- so, hope ya enjoy!

Chapter Two- Night Terrors

The lair was dark, silent- still, completely consumed in the darkness. The darkness that fled to the corners of the room, under the beds, once the lights were turned on. The sickness receded, but never left. It's- smell, touch, feel- taste- lingered.

It was cold, he was cold. But it wasn't from lack of blankets, or a heating-failure. No.

It was the darkness. He accused silently, jaw almost clacking, but he was too scared to allow himself a noise, not even a small sound. So he pressed his tongue between his teeth. It hurt.

He wasn't dreaming. It wasn't a nightmare. The Sickness was there- close. Closer than any shadow should ever be able to come.

His nightlight did nothing to piece the darkness. It had form, shape, trapping the small glow from the nightlight- devouring it, infact. Devouring his fear.

Without a sound. He promised, vowed, to whatever gods there may be, that if he made it through the night- he would never, ever watch another horror movie. Oh no, it would be Dora The Explora and other harmless, non-scary cartoons from then on.

If he made it through. Though his limbs shook with cold, the movement was involuntary, he had already discovered terror had stiffened his limbs, and even if he wanted to move, to run, he could not.

They can't get you... it can't get you... not if you hide under the covers and don't move and don't make a sound- it can't get you! His mind repeated, stuck on the single track, as if he thought the words enough, they would be true.

The Sickness. It could go by no other name. Darkness- was not suitable. Darkness could not rage away at your body, like this did, darkness could not destroy your mind the way this did.

He accepted that the Sickness---

oh god... something moved. His throat tightened, senses heightened, breath short, ragged- god, it can hear me! He scrunched his eyes up tightly, he didn't want to see- didn't want to know- I- help me! No! He screamed silently, words ringing in his head.

Even as he thought them, he hoped- and prayed, that none of his brothers should come to his rescue. The Sickness, would have them too... So he swallowed his pleas for rescue, for the comforting sight of any of his brothers. Even Raphael would be a pleasant sight, at that moment.

But no help would come, and for that- he was glaaa--dd-

His body jerked, taunt muscles tensing even more, all sense of cold and terror pushed from his body, his mind. He was just- too scared. It didn't matter what happened to him now- as long as it was over!

I take that back! He cried silently. I didn't mean... His thoughts trailed off once again, as he imagined that creeping... pallid, clawed hand, creeping under the blanket- body obscured by the darkness, hidden under the bed... the black nails fixing into his flesh around his ankle.

The sudden jerk- pulling motion, the scream he would let out. The final shrill girlish screech of fear- before-

A face- a face- not gray with decay- eyes not black gaping sockets- mouth not gaping open in that customary silent scream, or mocking laugh, pulling back the covers- he was too scared to scream.

Green. Michaelangelo thought weakly. The light was on- but the darkness remained. You could escape the Darkness- but the Sickness. No. The Sickness would never leave.

"Leo?" Michaelangelo croaked, voice high. The face almost smiled.

"Nightmare?" He asked, sitting on the edge of the bed. Waves of relief flooded Michaelangelo, body going limp, too much fear, too much relief- all too fast. His body couldn't handle it. The adrenaline... just died.

"No- no!" Michaelangelo yelled twice. Remembering the similar feeling on the rooftops with Raphael a few nights ago. The feeling of... Sickness- coldness. Fear- hatred- and, upon Leo and Donnatello's arrival- interest.

"Mike?" Leo frowned, leaning closer, trying to work out what was bothering his baby brother so much.

"Get out! Get out!" Michaelangelo screamed, desperate, fighting the bed-clothes, now wrapped around his legs, trapping him, holding him still, as successfully as the fear of the Sickness had only moments before.

"Mikey- it was just a bad dream." Leo tried to soothe his brothers frayed nerves- but nothing was working. Michaelangelo tore himself free, then stumbled from his bed, leaping away- lest that horrid, pallid hand grab his ankle and pull him into the remaining darkness under the bed- where the Sickness was strongest-

where... where Leo was sitting-

Michaelangelo lurched forward, grabbing his brother, jerking towards the door, clawing the door open, crying now- he slammed his door behind them, watching the gap between door and floor carefully. Waiting for a shadow to obscure the light.

"Michaelangelo." Leo snapped, not angry- worried, confused- and, as usual- demanding an explanation.

Michaelangelo's eyes tore from the gap underneath the door, to his brothers troubled eyes- before quickly snapping back, and then recoiling, stumbling- catching Leo off guard, they tumbled to the ground.

Michaelangelo pushed himself backwards, adrenaline once more flowing through his blood, and this time- he could do something about it.

There... a shadow- The Sickness- he could see the light cast by the light bulb ceiling fixture- distorted- shaded- by something -The Sickness!- standing in the way!

"Michaelangelo!" Leo yelled. Before his eyes saw the shadow underneath the door way. Anger sparked in his eyes. "I swear to god, if that is you Raphael, I am going to make sure you are very, very sorry." Leo snarled, jerking himself free of Michaelangelo's desperate, clinging grip, and striding towards his little brothers closed door.

"No! Leo-LEO!" Michaelangelo screamed. Leo ignored the terror in his brothers voice- had time to register Donnatello- and Raphael appearing in the hallway. Donnatello looking worried, and hassled after flicking on the hall light, Raphael looking merely violently angry at being awoken at some ungodly hour of the morning.

Leo pulled the door open violently, body jerking back- breath catching, heart skipping a beat. A cold sweat broke out over his body.

"Leo? What the shell is going on?" Raphael demanded. "What the hell is with all the flippin' noise?!"

Leo ignored him, stepping into the room. A low, animal whine of terror escaped Michaelangelo.

"What's wrong?" Donnatello asked gently, helping Michaelangelo stand, before slowly moving to his doorway. Leo stood in the center of the room, searching for any sign of- of what? He asked himself angrily. The freakin' Boogey Man?! He rubbed his temples.

"Nightmares." Leo said flatly. "Mikey- was having nightmares, or something. I came through. Usual. Just..." Leo shrugged, flailing. Raphael laughed.

"Did the big bad monsters of Mikey's dreams scare ya, Leo? Don' worry, I won' let those nasty monsters hurt ya." Raphael sniggered. Leo cut him a deadly look.

Donnatello exhaled a long, deep breath, rubbing his temples tiredly. "Come on, Mike. I'll make you some hot-chocolate, to help you get back to sleep."

Michaelangelo shook his head. "No! It wasn't- wasn't nightmares. Guys, you have to believe me! The--... the sickness- it's... it comes with the darkness- and it-it--"

Raphael laughed even louder, gasping for breath. "Please, Mike- the Sickness? Ooooh, scary! First, it starts with- a migraine!-"

"You're giving me a migraine!" Leo snapped.

But Raphael could not be deterred. "And then... the dreaded- horrible fate! Oh! The sneezes! The runny noses! The fever- oh no!"

"Raphael!" Leo bellowed a warning, looking tired, drawn.

Michaelangelo cut a desperate look to his remaining brothers. Leo's eyes were downcast, he rubbed his cheek absently. Donnatello merely shrugged. "Mikey, you know how real some of your nightmares can be. This is just... another one of them."

"No- it's not!" Michaelangelo yelled angrily, he hated this bit in movies, where the one who knew exactly what was going on was trying to tell the others- but no one believed the one who knew. He cringed, watching those bits, because his life full of moments like that. He wasn't surprised this moment was any different.

"Mike." Raphael said flatly, not amused anymore. "The Sickness? Come on. You've been tripping out ever since the other night on the roofs."

"Yeah- because that's when I felt it- the Sickness! It followed us home! You have to-"

Raphael opened his mouth, ready to explode.

"Raph, go back to bed." Leo said suddenly, voice flat, dangerous.

"Ya what?! Come on, Fearless! Don't tell me ya actually believe this-"

"Raphael, either go to bed, or shut the hell up!" Leo exploded. Raphael grit his teeth, but remained silent, and stayed rooted to the spot in the hallway. "Donny, go and make Mikey that hot-chocolate you promised him, and start some tea for me, please. Raph, go with him." Leo ordered a split second later. Raphael's eyes narrowed, but he followed Donnatello toward the kitchen.

"You... you believe me?" Michaelangelo asked weakly. Leo fixed a haunted gaze on his brother. He swallowed hard.

"I have no idea what this... Sickness... is. And I'm not saying it wasn't just the nightmare, clinging on. Or some sort of placebo effect, or something. But I'm willing to listen. In the morning." Leo finished sternly.

"But- I don't... I can't go back to sleep..." Michaelangelo wailed. Leo laughed, grabbing his little brother in a one armed hug, as he directed him down the hall.

"Mikey, if I know you, like I know I do, you haven't got a choice in the matter. Sooner or later, you'll just pass out." Leo smiled. Michaelangelo stared at his oldest brother.

"Did you see it? The Sickness? Did you?" Michaelangelo pressed. Leo cut a look over his shoulder, to his brothers' closed door.

"You're bunking with me, tonight, kiddo." Leo said, in way of reply.

Fearless.

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I hope ya liked, (you know, I say that EVERY time. At the end of my authors note at the top, and at the START of my - this little thing, that I put at the bottom... mwahahah!) bet it's driving ya crazy- it's driving me crazy too! But I don't know what else to say- EXCEPT the dreaded please review thing... but that doesn't bother me... unless it's like begging or threatanenin-...

see? nothing to say... except; hope ya liked, nd please review! blah... I'm goin' to bed! -

HOPE YA LIKED!

MWAHAHAHAHA!