Yep...ch 4...this ones going to be dark. By the way, the song Bob sings is 'The Rocky Road to Dublin' by The Dubliners.

Quahog, Rhode Island: York Residence

Morning.

'Dodds was a better Sandman then you ever could be…'

Nolan sat in his bed, eyes wide open. It had been almost five days since he'd last slept.

'I'd prefer that Sandy would've been the one to take up the mantel of Sandman rather than you.'

"Yeah…but Sandy died over thirty years ago Morpheus…" Nolan said softly as he looked up at the ceiling. "…How can I hear you when I'm not even asleep?" No reply was necessary. "Right, Affright's nightmare toxin…that was like a day ago…"

Nolan threw his covers off his bed and sat up. He got off his bed and began to get dressed.

'Why Wesley chose you to take up after him I will never know.'

Nolan shook his head as he walked towards a beaker sitting over a Bunsen burner. Nolan inspected the blue liquid within the beaker. "Not ready yet." Nolan mumbled. "The antidote won't be ready for another day or so."

Nolan headed to his window to see that the sun had finally begun to creep up over the horizon. His exhaustion was visible; his eyes drooped down wearily, his mind and body barely keeping up. With the nightmare toxin still flowing through his body, Nolan's prophetic dreams that he'd gained after the death of Wesley Dodds, his father figure, would no doubt be amplified tenfold.

Sleeping was no option. Affright was still out there, no doubt working on another of his schemes. Sandman was now public enemy number one. TND operatives were being killed one by one.

Nolan walked away from his window and began to walk to his front door. Both Nolan York and Sandman have their own agendas, but right now he had to focus on being Nolan York. Nolan quietly chuckled as he left his house, closing and locking the door behind him.

Quahog Cemetery

Bob Johnson, former Numbuh 802 of the KND, one of the most popular teens of his time, contract killer currently employed by Benedict Uno, was currently dragging a shovel uphill in the cemetery.

"In the merry month of June from me home I started," Bob sang as he approached a grave. "Left the girls of Tuam so sad and broken hearted, Saluted father dear, kissed me darling mother, Drank a pint of beer, me grief and tears to smother, Then off to reap the corn, leave where I was born."

Bob stabbed the shovel into the grass covered ground and began to dig. "Cut a stout black thorn to banish ghosts and goblins; bought a pair of brogues rattling o'er the bogs and fright'ning all the dogs on the rocky road to Dublin. One, two, three four, five, Hunt the Hare and turn her down the rocky road and all the way to Dublin, Whack follol de rah!"

Quahog, Rhode Island: Home Repair Shop

Nolan walked up to the counter of the shop with a gas mask and paint can in hand. He set the items onto the counter and pulled out his wallet.

The teen manning the counter eyed the items suspiciously. "What's with the gas mask?"

"I'm painting my room, I can't stand the fumes." Nolan replied casually.

"Still pretty suspicious kid." The teen said as he scanned the price tags.

"That I'm purchasing a gas mask? I think you've banged your head one too many times over the head Garret." Nolan said handing the teen the money and taking the gas mask and paint can. "Playing football does have its down sides after all."

"I'd watch your tongue Nolan; someone might get the wrong idea of you having that gas mask and I also hear that Kayla's pals are looking for an excuse to jump you." Garret gritted his teeth.

Nolan only shook his head in response before walking to the front door. "…Yeah, a lot of people want to take a shot at me." Nolan grumbled.

Nolan began to walk home before stopping in his tracks. He set the paint can and gas mask down and pulled his phone out of his pocket. He look at the caller I.D. His eyes widened slightly before he answered the phone, making sure his voice was slightly hoarse.

"What is it Warden?" Nolan asked the caller as he checked to make sure no one was around.

"Sandman, I hope this isn't a bad time." The Warden asked from his end in the call.

"No, not at all. But I'd like to know why you're calling." Nolan asked as he picked up his recently purchased items and continued his way home."

"It's June 28th today, today is the birthday of one of our more notorious patients."

"Even though I know who you're referring to, do you really mean Holiday is more notorious than The Fat Guy Strangler?" Nolan asked sarcastically.

"You know very well that Brett Jubilee aka 'Holiday' is more insane than that kook." The Warden said seriously. "But today, he's asked that you show up at the Asylum and speak with him, he says it's a matter of life and death, and knowing him it may be him causing the death."

"Understood, I'll be there in an hour." Nolan said before hanging up. He hurried to his house as he dialed up Kayla's number. To Nolan's dismay, his call went straight to voice mail. He hanged up, knowing to well it would be pointless to leave a message.

Nolan rushed to his room and changed into his modern Sandman costume. He threw on his plain hoodie, khaki cargo pants, combat boots, and threw on the new gas mask. Unfortunately, the gas mask only covered his mouth and nose, forcing Nolan to grab tinted motocross goggles. Nolan grabbed his gas gun, grapple gun, the scanner from Soulless, and the tracer gun and holstered them all.

Nolan, now Sandman, ran out of his house and ran on foot to Brookfield Insane Asylum, over more than twenty miles away.

Brookfield Insane Asylum: 3 Hours Later

As Sandman reached the gates of the asylum, the Warden accompanied by two security guards exited the asylum to greet him. "Warden Valera." Sandman nodded at the Warden.

"Sandman" The Warden shook hands with Sandman. "Nice new look, very appropriate it fits your new title as public enemy number one. I'm sorry though, but you're a bit late."

"Sorry, I walked." Sandman said humorlessly.

"I'm also sorry for Affright's release without him completing his rehabilitation."

"No need for apologies, I knew he'd get out sooner or later. I'm still, however, under the effects of his latest batch of nightmare toxin."

"Then we'll have to take extra precautions then." Warden Valera said as he motioned to the front door of the asylum. "This way, we've set up a special room for you to meet him."

Sandman walked beside the Warden as they entered the asylum. "So…how's the family?" Sandman asked.

"Well…we're doing alright. My daughter usually spends all her time with the teen ninjas and her boyfriend…but on the bright side her juvie record is finally behind her. My wife and I are going through our own trials though, we're trying to work it all out though." Warden Valera said rubbing the back of his neck.

"You got to look at the bright side sometimes in order to prevent yourself from falling into despair." Sandman said as they drew near a metal box that was surrounded by a dozen heavily armed guards.

"That's pretty deep, where'd you here that from?"

"My predecessor." Sandman said calmly as they reached the box. "I take it he's in there."

"Yes, behind four inches thick glass on one end, you'll be on the other end." The Warden said, giving Sandman the basic rundown. "Just see what he wants and tell us after."

"Will do." Sandman walked up to the giant metal box. Two guards reached for the doors and pulled them open for Sandman, closing the doors behind him.

As he entered the bleakly lit box, Sandman's attention was immediately drawn to the bald teen in shackles behind the four inches thick of glass.

"June 28th, happy birthday to me, happy birthday to me, what a wonderful holiday, such a bleak and joyous occasion." The teen said lowly as he stared at the floor.

"Holiday." Sandman said, gaining the teen's attention.

"Ah, Sandman. I see my birthday wish was granted." Holiday said lowly, but looking up at Sandman through the glass. "Do you remember April 1st? It was the day you foiled my plot and sent me back to this institute."

"I remember it very well, you're plan was to release a deadly neurotoxin into the air through whoopee cushions." Sandman glared at Holiday behind his goggles.

"And you foiled it so fast" Holiday sighed. "I still don't know how you found out what I was going to do."

"You're predictable Holiday, now, what did you mean by it's a matter of life and death?" Sandman asked in a threatening tone.

"Oh yes Sandman, on my birthday today, I did not receive the traditional cake or presents. My true birthday wish is freedom." Holiday said lowly.

"What does that have to do with life or death?" Sandman asked, only for the sound of gun fire to catch his attention.

"You see Sandman, the one who used to call himself Teen Tornado, had on June 26th changed his name, and on June 27th thought of a full proof plan to escape. For you see Sandman, the holiday he decided to escape on, is on June 28th, my birthday the most important holiday to me." Holiday said lowly and creepily.

Sandman turned around and ran to the doors behind him, trying to push the open. "That won't work Sandman; Tornado has most likely blocked it. The only way out is now on my side of the box." Holiday said smiling. "You'll have to bust through the glass in order to get over here."

Before Holiday could react, Sandman ran at the glass and punched through it, grabbing Holiday around the neck. Sandman reeled his arm back, smashing Holiday through the glass and flinging him at the locked doors behind him.

Sandman then walked through the hole in the glass he'd just created and walked to the doors on Holiday's side in the box. Sandman kicked the doors open, only to find that they lead to the patient recreation room.

Sandman turned to see an elderly man rocking back and forth, babbling to himself. "Hey Jonah." Sandman waved to the old man before running to a nearby guard. "You, we need to help the Warden, Teen Tornado is trying to escape."

"Are you Sandman?" The guard asked, slowly reaching for his holstered weapon.

Sandman quickly reacted, unholstering his gas gun and blasting the guard at point blank range. The guard fell over, unconscious. Sandman continued to look for an exit or any other way back to the room.

Sandman stumbled upon a door and kicked it open. He walked through it, to find himself back in the room he'd first entered the box. He looked around, only to find all of the guards unconscious with no sign of Warden Valera.

Sandman turned to the door he'd originally entered the room with the Warden, seeing the door had been ripped off its hinges. Sandman ran through the doorway, seeing the man formerly known as Teen Tornado swatting guards aside with wind as he dragged the warden with him.

"You're my ticket out of here warden! First thing I'm doing when I'm out, I'm going to kill that guy who put me back in here!" Tornado yelled.

"I'm right behind you." Tornado turned to see Sandman pointing his grapple gun at him.

"You!"

"Yes, me." Sandman pulled out his gas gun before pulling the trigger of his grapple gun, propelling the hook at Tornado.

Tornado quickly reacted, blasting the hook away from him and into the wall beside him. "Ha! You can't beat-wait this seems familiar."

Tornado's eyes widened as he saw Sandman shoot into the air as he retracted the line. He slammed into Tornado, knocking the former teen off his feet and onto the floor. Sandman stomped on Tornado and pointed his gas gun at his face. "Deep breathes…" Sandman said lowly and angrily as he pulled the trigger.

Tornado breathed in the gas, quickly losing consciousness. Sandman turned around to see Warden Valera getting back on his feet, holding his head in pain.

"That was unexpected." The warden said groggily. "So what did Holiday want?"

"Freedom, but he was merely distraction." Sandman said as he pointed to the unconscious Tornado.

"Good thing you got out when you did, you stopped this crazy top."

"Yeah…I did…" Sandman said as he began to think, his mind wanting begging for rest. "…Tornado was the distraction." Sandman rushed back to the box, pulling the doors open, only to find a security hanging from the ceiling and no sign of Holiday.

The Warden and two other guards soon arrived, each one gasping at the horrible sight. "He got away, he talked Tornado into trying to escape while we were focused on him…he's gone." Sandman shook his head. Sandman felt his phone vibrate in his pocket, he pulled it out to see the caller I.D. "Hey, can you guys handle this, I've got to take care of something back in town."

"You've earned it, we'll keep you posted." Warden Valera motioned for Sandman to go. "You've done enough for one day."

Sandman lightly bowed, before running off, answering his phone on the way. "Hey Kayla."

Quahog, Rhode Island

Nolan ditched his Sandman garb at his house, changing into his regular street clothes. He ran down to meet Kayla at a local teen hangout. Nolan entered the teen oriented establishment, quickly finding Kayla sitting at a table, talking with two teens that Nolan recognized from The Delightful Children 2.0.

"Hey Kayla." Nolan said nervously as he walked up to the table. "You said you had something to tell me."

Kayla turned to her two teammates, without words she told them to give them privacy. The two teens got to their feet and walked away. One of the teens bumped into Nolan and cast him a death glare.

"Nice to see you too Connor." Nolan said dryly as he sat down beside Kayla. "Kayla, if its something I've done or if it's that I'm not there for you most of the time, I can explain."

"No, it's not that Nolan…it's just that I haven't been honest with you." Kayla said, looking away from Nolan. "You see Nolan…Ace asked me a question during the concert and…and we actually met way before I 'accidentally' called you." Kayla turned to face Nolan.

"Look…Kayla…I don't really care if you were dared to call me or something like that." Nolan said already knowing the real reason why she called him. "I also don't care if Ace kissed you or something. Kayla I...I-" Before Nolan could finish, his phone began to ring, interrupting him.

"Give me a second." Nolan said as he answered his phone. "Hello?" Nolan asked the caller. After a few seconds on the phone, Nolan's expression turned from annoyance to shear shock, which was amplified by the nightmare toxin in his body. Nolan turned to Kayla, pain visible in his face.

"Nolan…are you alright, what happened?" Kayla asked as Nolan's perception of reality began to act up again.

You are week; Dodds never let emotions cloud his thoughts.' Morpheus said as he manifested in a seat beside Kayla.

"Look…Kayla, I have to go, something came up." Nolan said getting up from his seat.

"Wait, what's going on?" Kayla asked only for Nolan to kiss her.

"I'll see you later, maybe then I'll get to finish what I was about to say." Nolan smirked before running out of the teen hangout, leaving Kayla with both questions and a smile on her face.

Quahog Cemetery

Nolan reached the top of the hill in less than ten minutes. When he arrived, he found a teen with a giant hat covering his face with a shovel in his hands standing beside Dillon's grave. "What happened here?" Nolan asked, completely freaked due to the combination of exhaustion, the nightmare toxin, and the trauma of the event that'd transpired.

"I'm sorry sir, but we just found it like this. The grave dug up, the casket opened, and the body missing." The teen said as he hid a smile behind his hat.

"How could this have happened? Who would do this?" Nolan asked as he stood in front of the open grave, his back turned from the teen.

"Well…actually I do know who did it." The teen smiled as he pulled a gun. Nolan spun around, only to be shot in his left shoulder. Nolan fell down into the casket, blood flowing from the fresh wound.

The teen tossed a tape recorder and glow stick into the casket before using his shovel to close it. He began to toss the piles of dirt back into the hole he'd dug up earlier, burying Nolan in his friend's grave.

The teen tossed his hat away, revealing himself to be Bob Johnson. Bob dropped the shovel and proceeded to sing as he walked down the hill. "From there I got away, me spirits never falling, Landed on the quay, just as the ship was sailing. The Captain at me roared, said that no room had he; When I jumped aboard, a cabin found for Paddy. Down among the pigs, played some hearty rigs, Danced some hearty jigs, the water round me bubbling; When off Holyhead wished meself was dead, Or better for instead on the rocky road to Dublin. One, two, three four, five, Hunt the Hare and turn her down the rocky road and all the way to Dublin, Whack follol de rah!"