Disclaimed: Do not own TMNT, but I do own my OC.

Fact: Too much stress could result in physical problems, like heart disease, chest pain, high blood pressure, and an irregular heartbeat. Stress is known as "silent killer" because people do not take stress too seriously when it begins to build up. Though a little stress is a good thing, if you do not give yourself a break once in a while, your own body will force itself to take a break.

There will be no child abuse in this chapter, only references.

Mikey had passed out in his father arms from exhaustion, Donnie paced the lab thinking of anything that could have brought this up, while Leo kneed beside his sensei placing a hand on Mikey forehead and humming softly.

Raphael stood and watch his little brother chest rise and fall, it was a way for him to tell that Mikey was going to be alright, he had never seen him like this before and it hurt him. He couldn't take it, there was something wrong with Mikey and everyone knew it even April and Casey did when they would, come around, but nobody had said anything about it.

Why?

"That's it, I can't stand it!"

"Raph claim down," Leo said.

"Claim down, claim down! You want me to claim down! Leo I think you've been watching Space Hero's for too long! Because in case you haven't notice our baby brother just had a panic attack!"

"Along, with going into shock as will."

All eyes glared at Donnie, but Master Splinter who was currently in deep thought.

"You see shock can be caused by –"

"We get it Donnie, pain, we understand," Raph said, not wanting to hear about it.

"Actually, there's more to it," he cuts himself of as Leo and Raph gave him a cold glare

"Raph were worried, just as much as you, but how can we help him if he won't tell us."

"Get it through your head Leo, he aren't going to open up. We've got force it out of him and don't, ya say it's nothing, but a phrase. Because it, aren't!" Leo sighed in defeat and continues to hum.

"That's it."

"What now Donnie?" Raph mutters.

"Maybe it's not phrase, maybe it's something to do with a physical problem. I can help him, I can run test on him, see if he's fine."

"My son," eyes look up at their sensei. "I fear there is nothing you can do, Donatello."

"What? Why?" Donnie said, with a hint of panic.

He hates this, he hater the thought of not being able to help; surely there was something he could do. He could run test, he can come up with theories, he can make the pain to go away and get his brother back.

What does he mean there is nothing, he can do?

"Donatello, your mind is in the right place. You wish to help your brother during his time of need. It is what we all wish to do, however his illness is not a physical one. It is not something you can cure with medicine."

"B-but," Donnie was closer to tears.

He needs to do something, he can't be force to watch he, can't be.

"Listen my son, the illness that I speak of, is mentally. It has something to do with the mind and the soul and even though the body heals quickly, the mind is not as easy. What has causer your brother down fall, is stress."

"Stress?" they all said.

"But, how sensei?" Leo asked, "is, it nightmares?"

"That is a good guess my son, but I do not think so. Come, we will put your brother to bed he needs the rest he can get."

Before Master Splinter lifts Mikey back into his arms, he smile as Raph takes him instead. The family follows him and watches as Raph tucks Mikey into bed, he leaves the room just to grab a chair and stays there to silently watch Mikey. Splinter nods knowing that the youngest will be safe and walks off, while Leo and Donnie exchange looks.

"Would you look at that, Raph does have a heart," Leo was taking back when his brother gave him a stare before looking back down at Mikey.

"He might hate to admit it, Leo, but Raph might have the biggest heart in the family. When it all comes down to Mikey," Donnie said.

"Ture, come on there's no point in all of us being here, Raph will call if he needs help."

April and Casey walk towards the lair holding a freshers brought pizza, they knew that this was the time of day that Mikey now spends his time sleeping. They had also notice ever since of the youngest changed, the turtles had, became distant of one another, Donnie would spend most of his time in the lab, Leo and Raph had started to fight more than usury.

"Hey guys," April said, as she enters.

She had been surprised to see all of the brothers in one room, but Mikey, the TV was going, however she could tell that most of them were in there own thoughts.

"Whoa, dudes who crashed you're party," Casey said.

Donnie was hugging his knees, he hadn't even notice April arrival, Leo just stare at the TV, but wasn't really watching it and Raph just stare at the floor.

"Is Mikey okay?" this caught everyone attention.

"Technically physically, yes. In fact he in better shape them all us," they winched hearing Donnie screamed in anger, as he kicks a bean bag.

"Then, why can't I help him. He's fine, he's perfectly healthily, but no. I can't help him, I can't fix him if there's nothing broken."

"What's wrong with gape tooth?" Casey asked, Raph who didn't respond.

"I mean, what's the point in learning nearly everything there is about today's medicine. Only to find out that, it's all pointless, because my brother isn't sick and it's due to stress. He shouldn't be stress, he's the youngest one, and we work hard, so he doesn't need to be stress."

Leo runs over towards Donnie, as he screams out, dropping to the ground he takes his older brother into a hug. April and Casey stood back, shock by the event that had just happened, this wasn't like Donnie, not like him at all. He's always claim, sure he can get snappy every now and again, but that's only, because he spends most of his nights working in his lab.

Raph walk away after that and Casey followed after him, to make sure he won't do something he regret, April placed the pizza down and walks towards a screaming Donnie being held by Leo, who as well look ready to break down.

Mikey changed, had an effect on the whole family, they had started too worried about his health, once he started to sleep during the day. He spent less time with his brothers and was often zoned out, they had thought it was nightmares causing him to act the way he was, but after his episode in the lab, his family is beginning to think it is more.

But what?

"Maybe I can try to talk to him," April said.

Donnie had stop screaming, but Leo had refused to let him go, the purple mask turtle just sat and stare at the girl, but his crush wasn't even on his mind.

"W-why not me?" Donnie asked, once the words, finally caught to him.

"What do you mean?"

"Leo, he always used to, come and talk to me. Whenever something upsetting him or when something bothering him, he would always talk to me. What made him stop? Why would he want to talk to April and not me?"

Leo could feel the tension starting to build up in the room, he sighs.

"Don, you need to get some rest."

"But Mikey, Leo."

"Don't worry Donnie, Master Splinter with him. You need some rest, you haven't been sleeping well since Mikey's episode."

"How can I?"

"Just try; you want to help him, don't you?" Donnie nods," how can you help him, if you don't look after yourself, as well?"

Donnie blinks, he gets what his older brother is trying to say, but he wants stay up a bit more, he needs to be there for his little brother, his only little brother, so he nods and walks of, not saying another word.

"Sorry about that," Leo said, as he stands and walks towards April. "Mikey change, is taking a toll on him."

"I think it's taking a toll on all of you," she said.

"You think you can help him open up?"

"I can try. Maybe he just needs someone new to talk to."

"Yeah, maybe," Leo said, "he's in his room, sensei with him."

She gives him a warm smile, before walking off towards the youngest room, she stops when she can hear Splinter voice, coming from the other side of the door.

"Michelangelo, is it your nightmares that have caused this problem."

"No."

She gasps at the tone of his voice, it didn't sound anything like the Mikey she knew and came to love, as a brother.

Robotic, yes.

Mikey, no.

"Have you been having nightmares, my son?"

"No."

"Sensei," April asked, as she slowly opens up the door.

"Yes?" Splinter said.

"Is he okay?"

"Sadly not, I will assume that my sons have told you about what has happened. Am I correct?"

"Hai sensei, but it's hard to believe."

"Indeed and it is also difficult in seeing your child like this. When, his spirit is always bright and full of life, only to turn dark and full of distress."

"Sensei , I was wondering. Could I try to talk to him?"

"Hmm, I see no harm, however if you get any information out of him, that is not a one word respond. You will inform at once, I do not want any information keep, if it means I can help my son make a recover."

"Hai sensei."

"Very well, the door will be open. If you need anything just call."

April watches the old rat leave the room, she turns back to Mikey and sighed. He hadn't moved from his spot, as he sits there and stares at the wall in front of him, she sits beside him on the bed.

"Hey, Mikey, guess what? I brought pizza, want some?"

"No."

She frowns, Mikey never throws away the offer of a good pizza, it was this that had causer alarm bells to ring.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"I know something wrong, Mikey, we all do. We only want to help, but we can't if you don't tell us."

"Can you promise something?" she raised an eye brow, but nods anyway.

"Sure Mikey, what is it?"

"Promise you won't tell them."

"Them?"

"My family, I will tell them, but not yet, they can't know yet, just promise."

"Okay Mikey, I promise, but they're going to find out."

"I know, don't worry. I will tell sensei soon, just not, yet."

April wonders, what Mikey is talking about, but she goes along with it anyway. It's so far the most information he has told her and even though she did tell Splinter that, she won't keep anything from him. She has to keep her promise to Mikey, if it will make him feel more comfortable about it.

"Do you want to talk about it? It sounds like a big deal if you're keeping this from your family."

"It's a long story, I met a friend," she frowns at the statement.

Who was he talking about?

Is this person threatening him?

If this was the case in anyway, the April might actually break the promise she had made. If this person was harming him in any shape of form, she wasn't going to let them get away and, and she knew that Mikey brothers would be more then gladly to help.

"She's really nice April."

Her thoughts freeze, she claims down.

"But, but the thing is, she's got a difficult life and I only just worked it out. I only just notice, I only just figured it out. I want to save her, I need to save her, but I know now. I know after that stupide episode. My bro's aren't going to leave my sight, there not going anyway. God, why am I , so useless."

"Mikey, Mikey claim down, claim down."

"Sorry, sorry," he mumbles, as he hugs his knees.

"Need to save her."

"It's okay Mikey, every think I going to be ok," she hugs him.

Does she tell the others?

She knows that she should, but she had made a promise to Mikey as well as to Master Splinter. Maybe she will just stay with the secret for, if it will help Mikey recover.

Hey everyone. Sorry if it seem liked not much happened during this chapter. I wanted Mikey to try and get his head around the whole process of what's going on. Poor little guy, he's so lost; he doesn't know what to do. Hopefully April can save the day.

Like always thanks to those who read and review.

Make sure to add a review and give me your thoughts on the chapter, next chapter will hopefully be a bit more about Mikey and Olivia building up their relationship, since they don't seem to be having much scene time together.

See ya!