Summary: Something, or someone, is slowly turning the turtles insane, and slowly tearing them apart. But what has Master Splinter got to do with all of this? And just what, or who, exactly, is he hiding from the turtles?

Takes place a month after the end of the 2007 CGI movie.

Disclaimer: I do not own TMNT.

Warning: This will be a rather dark fic with dark themes including violence, angst, hurt and comfort, possible tragedy, swearing, hurt feelings, possible torture, insomnia, and a lot of psychological horror. But I think this story will have a happy ending. At least I hope it does anyway…

Notes: Sorry I haven't updated this for awhile. At first inspiration and lack of plot bunnies stopped me from writing. Then when I did try writing for this again it came out absolutely rubbish and I had to scrap the whole thing. Then I got another idea for a story and have been working on it since. But, luckily I was hit with a need to write so I hope this chapter makes up for my absence and for leaving you guys off at a cliff hanger last chapter. Hopefully I will be able to start writing for this story again. Now enough of my rambling and excuses, please read and enjoy.

~Hear Me Scream~

-Leonardo's POV-

The only sound around us was our laboured pants.

"He's got to be around here somewhere," Mikey said breathlessly, breaking the silence and stopping to rest his hands on his knees as he tried to get his breath back.

"We've searched everywhere," Donatello groaned, slumping against the wall in obvious exhaustion. "He wouldn't have gone top-side...would he?"

"No," I said firmly. "Raphael knows how dangerous that is. He would never go to the surface in the daylight. He's down here somewhere, I know it."

We had been searching for Raphael for over an hour now, combing every tunnel we knew for any signs of our hot-headed brother. So far, nothing.

"These tunnels are old, he could be in a part we haven't explored yet," Michelangelo said slowly, straightening up and looking at me with round blue eyes. "He could be lost."

"He's right. These tunnels go on for miles," Donatello murmured, squinting at the torn and ragged map he had clutched in his hands. "It'll take us ages to cover this much ground."

"Then we split up," I said firmly. "Sync up your locators and each take a different route. We'll find him quicker if we each search a different quadrant."

Donatello nodded. "I'll take the south sewers near the abandoned train tracks. Mikey, you look to the east, where there was that old mine."

"And I'll search the western quadrant," I said.

"Be careful Leo," Donnie warned. "We haven't explored any of that part yet, and from what I've been able to draw up, that part of the sewer is very unstable."

"I'll keep that in mind Donnie, thanks."

"Okay, radio in if you find him," Donnie said, syncing up his shell-cell to the locator.

"Will do," I said, quickly syncing my own. "And be careful guys. Don't be hesitant to call for back up."

"Don't worry, we'll be okay," Mikey tried a small smile.

"Alright then, let's go," I said, turning to the left where three subway tunnels branched off. Footsteps echoing in the eerie silence, I chose the left tunnel and prayed that Raphael was safe and that we would find him soon. The sewers were cold and I had to admit, a little creepy. The way the flickering light played across the damp surfaces made it look like the shadows were moving, following you.

I couldn't help the shiver that ran down my spine. It felt eerie in this part of the sewers. The air felt colder, and it felt as if there were eyes hidden in the shadows, watching my every move.

Being in this part of the sewers sent chills racing down my spine and made my heart beat faster. My palms grew sweaty and my eyes constantly flickered around me, probing the shadows for the eyes I was certain were there, watching me.

I didn't know why this part of the sewers made me so uncomfortable, made me so nervous in my own home. Perhaps it was bad karma, but whatever it was, I didn't want to stick around for longer than I had to.

Rounding a bend in the penumbra-clad tunnel, I came face to face with a sight that was both a relief and something I never wanted to witness again.

Raphael was kneeling in the shadows, bent over like an old beggar, staring vacantly at his hands, as if they held the answer to the universe.

"Raphael!" I yelled, moving quickly to my hunched brother, worried that he had been hurt.

He was shaking, violent tremors racking his body. His skin was pale and cold to the touch. He had obviously been in this part of sewers for a long time.

"Raphael, are you okay?" I furrowed my brow in concern, crouching down on the filthy ground next to him and placing a comforting hand on his shell for support.

"So much blood," Raphael muttered, furiously washing his hands in the dirty sewage water beneath him. "Why won't it come off? Still there, have to wash it all away."

"Raph, what are you talking about?" I frowned, grabbing his cold hands in mine and expecting them carefully. There wasn't a drop of blood on them, and no traces that there had been previously.

Suddenly Raphael stiffened at my touch and blinked several times, turning his head to look up at me.

"Leo?" Raphael turned his head towards me, blinking in confusion, as if he had just woken up from a dream. "What...what happened?"

"You ran away from home, remember?" I said quietly, trying to ignore the sinking feeling in my chest.

"I...oh," he grumbled, sounding more like his usual self.

"Come on, let's get you home," I said, pulling him to his feet.

"I'm not an infant Leo, ya' don't need ta' baby me," Raphael snapped, pulling away from my touch and glaring at me with his amber eyes.

I held my hands up in a placating gesture, stepping aside so he could lead the way through the sewers. As we walked a thick silence descended, the only sounds coming from the scuffling of rats and leaking pipes. And still I couldn't fight off the feeling that we weren't the only ones down here. It still felt like we were being watched.

As we walked I studied Raphael, noting the small changes in his body language. He shivered every now again, and I could tell it wasn't from the cold. Even though I was walking behind him, I could tell that his eyes were constantly searching the dark, searching for something that may or may not be there. His stride was faster than normal, and his body was stiff and rigid, like he was ready to flee at any moment. And he kept glancing down at his hands, studying them like they were new to him, before grumbling so low I couldn't make out what he was saying.

I felt a pang of worry. Raphael never acted like this. The only time I remember him acting even remotely like this was during our fight on the rooftop a month ago, and that was after he realized that his temper had almost killed me.

The further we walked the louder Raphael's grumbling started to become. Though it was still soft, nothing more than a whisper, I could make out a few mumbled words.

"Being followed...Know he's there...blood won't come off...why won't it come off...?"

Something was wrong with Raphael, and I was determined to get to the bottom of it.

We were nearly back at the lair when I realized I hadn't called Don or Mikey. Fishing my shell-cell out, I quickly dialled Don's number and waited for him to pick up.

"Leo?" He said, picking up on the second ring. "Where are you? Have you found Raph?"

"I found him Donnie; we're nearly back at the lair."

I heard Don sigh in relief. "Okay, I'll call Mikey and let him know. And Leo?"

"Yeah Donnie?" I said, knowing Raphael was listening to the conversation.

"Is he...okay? He hasn't tried to kill you yet has he?"

"No Donnie, nothing like that but...it may be nothing but..." I glanced over my shoulder at Raphael. He was watching me with narrowed eyes and the beginnings of a snarl. He knew we were talking about him.

"But what Leo?"

"Never mind, we'll talk about it later. I've gotta go Donnie," I said, hanging up quickly.

"There something ya' want ta' say ta' me Leo?" Raphael growled, his hands balling into fists at his sides.

"I want to know why I found you like that," I said, waiting for a reaction from the hot-headed turtle.

Raphael tensed up, his eyes boring into me before his gaze slid to the side so he wasn't looking me in the eye.

"Nothing's wrong," he grumbled, turning away from me and walking towards the lair. "Mind your own God-damn business Leo."

"Listen Raph, I know something's going on," I said, following him quickly. He wasn't going to get away from me a second time. "And I'm going to get to the bottom of it."

"Why can't ya' just leave me alone for a change?" Raphael demanded, turning on his heel to face me once more. "Ya' have ta' stick ya' big beak in everyone's business and I'm sick of it!"

"Look Raph," I said firmly, grabbing his arm in a tight grip so he wouldn't run away again. "Something's bothering you. First you have nightmares and wake up screaming. Secondly you've been yelling at everyone, more than you normally do. And third, I want to know why I found you rocking back and forth like that, convinced you had blood on your hands!"

Raphael stiffened at my words. His eyes went momentarily wide before narrowing at me again. He growled and wrenched his arm out of my grip. "I'm fine," he growled, though I could see in his eyes that he was far from okay.

"You're going to talk to Master Splinter Raphael," I said firmly, waiting for him to throw the first punch, or to yell obscenities in my face.

He did neither however, which shocked me more than if he had pulled his sai on me again.

"Whatever," he grumbled, turning away and marching off in the direction of the lair.

I stood dumbfounded, watching him stride away from me. Raphael...Raphael had just agreed to something I had said, and to talk to Master Splinter no less. The sinking feeling in my heart grew and that's when I was sure that something wasn't right. Raphael never agreed to anything I said, much less talk to our father about personal issues.

Shaking my head to clear my jumbled thoughts, I quickly followed after him.

Raphael strode into the lair, not bothering to look over his shoulder at me, and headed straight for Master Splinter's room. I followed after him quickly, wanting to hear everything Raphael had to say.

Raphael didn't knock; which wasn't surprising, he rarely did, and walked straight into Master Splinter's room without so much as a 'may I?'

"Raphael," I heard Master Splinter say just as I reached the door.

He didn't move from his cross-legged position on the ground, instead opening his brown eyes and narrowing them at his second oldest son. "Kneel," he commanded, his voice tight and filled with disapproval at his son's unceremonious and unannounced entrance.

Raphael did as he was instructed and knelt before Master Splinter, his gaze fixed on the ground.

I coughed slightly to let Master Splinter know that I was there. He looked up at me and gestured for me to kneel beside Raphael.

"My sons, I sense there is something you wish to tell me."

"Father," I bowed before kneeling beside my brother. "I am concerned about Raphael."

Raphael tensed beside me but didn't say anything, clamping his jaw firmly shut and glaring daggers at the floor.

"Go on," Master Splinter said, noticing Raphael's out of character silence.

"I found Raphael in an abounded part of the sewers Sensei," I explained, casting quick glances over at my brother. "He...appeared confused and disoriented, mumbling things about...about being followed and blood that could not be washed off."

When Raphael didn't respond we both realized that something indeed was wrong and my worry only grew.

Turning his back to us, Master Splinter took his tea kettle from his shelf and poured some tea into a small cup.

"Drink this, my son, and tell me what is troubling you," Master Splinter said gently, handing Raphael the offered tea.

Raphael sighed in defeat but did as he was told, taking the tea from Master Splinter and taking a sip. He scrunched up his face at the flavour, but said nothing as he reluctantly took another sip.

I studied my brother with worried a look, noting the dark circles under his eyes and his hunched shoulders.

"Have you been sleeping lately my son?" Master Splinter asked, as if reading my mind.

"I...can't," Raphael grumbled, staring into his teacup.

"Why not my son? Is something troubling you?" Master Splinter asked, his eyes looking over his son in concern.

"Because...every time I close my eyes...I see him," Raphael whispered. "And when I do I don't think I'll be able to wake up again..."

Note: I know Raphael may be a little OOC in this chapter but he is meant to be this way, as he is slowly descending into madness. I know, I'm so mean, but there is good reason for this I assure you, as you will find out in later chapters.

Also, I am not very good at writing Master Splinter, so I hope I didn't make him to OOC either.

Leave a review and let me know what you think so far. Hopefully the next chapter will be more forthcoming. Again, sorry for leaving you off at a cliff-hanger, I couldn't help myself :-)