The streets of New York were oddly quiet that night. At least quieter than normal. The alleys were empty; some people stayed home instead of going out to the diner, and the pizza man didn't run...

Even down in the turtle home, not a mouse stirred. Don was nodding off on the couch while Raph relaxed in the recliner chair watching TV at a low volume.

Leonardo couldn't shake the undeniable fact that something was very wrong with his youngest brother, but every time he tried asking him for an answer, he simply shook his head. He couldn't quite put his finger on what was going on, and became worried to the point of heeding the need to tell the others.

When he came downstairs, he stepped into the spacious living room and paused near the television screen. Since Donnie was asleep, he turned his attention to Raph.

"Hey, uh...I've been worried about something."

Raphael scoffed.

"You? Worried? When did dat happen?"

"I'm serious, Raph. It's about Mikey." Just the sound of his name caught Raph's attention.

"Mikey? What 'bout the little guy?"

"I'm worried because he's been acting really strange lately..."

"Strange? Ha! You know who you're talkin' 'bout, right? When has he never been strange?"

"Raph—" He walked over and sat on the end of the couch closest to him, "—Did you not notice how he didn't walk back with us after the battle today?"

"Whatcha talkin' about? Coarse, he did. We had a conv'sation 'bout how scatty he was—"

"No, no, after that. When we were already underneath the city. He wasn't with us. I figured he'd be fine—I mean he can handle himself—and he'd be back at about the same time we got home. But he was gone for hours. I mean, that would probably be normal for you, but he's never done that before...Later, I heard a noise coming from outside our front door. It sounded like Mikey. When I ran out there, it almost looked like something was attacking him."

"Did you help 'im?"

"Well, no, because there was nothing there. Nothing at all." Raphael's face puzzled. "But, I swear, he must have seen something. Something that made him act that way. But I just don't know what. He looked...scared."

"Okay, yeah. That does sound kind o' weird...You asked 'im 'bout it?"

"I have, plenty of times, but he won't answer me..."

"You know, he could be embarrassed? I mean, that don't sound like somethin' I'd want you catchin' me doing."

"Maybe..." Leonardo drew a heavy sigh. It did make sense; he could have just been abashed in his actions, not wanting to talk. But what did he see that made him act out like that?

When Leonardo leaned back to join Raph in watching his show, Donnie slumped over and his head rested on Leo's lap. He couldn't help but to laugh.

"Out like a light," he commented.

Raphael said jokingly, "Check his pulse!" Leo smiled and put his fingers to his neck.

"Uh, oh. I think he's dead. Looks like we have to hide the body..."

"I get his Barracuda Web Filter 810, I call that shit. Man, I can get a lot o' money for that—"

"Fuck you, Raph..." mumbled a weary Donatello. The both of them laughed. Leo shook his shoulder to wake him up enough for him to realize he was using his oldest brother as a pillow.

"Have a good nap?" Leo asked. Don sat up, rubbed the sleep from his eyes, and turned to them with a thoughtful expression.

"I had a freaky dream..."

"Oh? What was it about?" Don held his tongue for a moment trying to remember. But as soon as he reclaimed his thoughts, the sound of blood-curdling shrieks of terror echoed throughout their home. All three brothers shot up from their seats and hastily rushed their way toward Michelangelo's deafening screams.

Expecting another fight, they drew their weapons and burst through Mikey's bedroom door.

"Mikey!" they yelled in unison. Master Splinter wasn't far behind them.

"What is wrong?!" Splinter asked frantic, with his staff in hand. "I heard screams!"

On his knees, and mask nowhere to be found, there were tears streaming down Michelangelo's face. There was no one else in the room but him and he had not a scratch on him. So, they sheathed their weapons.

"NO!" he shouted. The first word he was able to say in hours. "Get it away from me!" The turtle brothers were very confused. Leo knelt down by his side.

"Mikey," Leo began, "there's nothing here. You need to try and relax, buddy."

"I can't!" Mikey threw his hands in his face and leaned up against the end of his bed. "I'm going crazy, I know it..."

"Now, Mikey, don't think that way. Just tell us what's wrong."

"Ev-Everything is moving..." he explained, relieved that he was finally able to communicate. "All I hear is buzzing and ringing..." Leo used a towel to wipe his little brothers face of wetness and they all helped him sit back up on his bed.

"Do you remember what happened after the battle this morning? Where were you those two hours you were gone?"

"Uh...Yeah. Yeah, I remember..." Little Mikey took a few breathes to get his voice steady before continuing. "It sounds crazy, but...Up in the city streets, someone hit me with something. And afterward everything was hazy. I made it down here, but...I started seeing things. And I got scared...But I know who it is. It was—" But his tongue tied once again. He wanted to scream at the top of his lungs, 'It was the Foot Clan!' However, was still unable to speak those two single words... "God! I can't even get it out of my mouth..."

Mikey lowered his head ashamed. But when he did, Donnie noticed something at that moment that no one else had.

"Guys, look at this..." He told them, pointing at their little brother. Located on the top of Mikey's head, was something very suspicious. He wiped it off on a clean rag to examine. It was the dust he was hit with. Reluctantly, Mikey hadn't wiped all of it off in his struggle.

"What is that?" Raph commented. Mikey looked up through the tears. Weary eyes saddened with discomfort, they widened in relief once he saw what Donnie was holding.

"That...that's the stuff!" He was overjoyed.

"If that's true, then I'd better get it back to the lab for analysis." Donnie, without another word, left on his mission. Leo turning to Master Splinter, and stated, "Raph is going with me to the lab. If you would, could you stay here with Mikey so he doesn't have to be alone?"

"Of course, my son. But, Leonardo, before you go, you must promise me, whatever is going on here, you must stop it. I don't want anyone else getting hurt." Leo nodded with sincerity. Making a quick glance back at his hurt baby brother, he took his leave. Hopefully whatever was going on, they would find out the answers from Donatello's results. They only hoped...