Man, this fic is proving to be a rollercoaster. That's okay, though-I love writing action. I hope I'm getting better at it as this goes along! Enjoy!

Summary: Raph is sure he can't take Leo's almighty attitude any longer. He channels his rage through the Nightwatcher, a mask he puts on to beat down criminals of all kinds. However, when Raph (as the Nightwatcher) is captured by desperate criminals, he begins to realize how much he really needs a leader. He also might have found love in the process. RaphxOC, M/M SLASH! Don't like, don't read.

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Raphael hardly paid Jet any attention as the healer checked his vital signs, gathering samples from the first use recorded of his DNSS (a proudly developed acronym for Deadened Nervous System Serum). Jet was basically talking to himself at this point, muttering occasionally whenever he found something unusual or something that went right or just anything in general. He was constantly poking Raph with a stick, too. Though Raph was glad to have at least some company while Flame was out, the healer was really beginning to get on his nerves.

Oh, wait. Jet had already done that.

Raph had had a hard time following Jet as he had tried to explain why the medicine made Raph so sluggish. He pretty much stopped listening when a Brachial plexus was mentioned, whatever the heck that was. He just knew the serum had worked, and Jet was insanely happy about it.

Even now, the healer was muttering to himself. "The CNS is almost completely numb... Raph, did you feel that? Hmm, guess not. Now, examining the Musculocutaneous nerve... Astounding!"

Raph had to resist rolling his eyes. This guy and Donatello would really get along. At the thought of Donny, Raph felt a small tremor go through his system. His family. Did they even miss him? Were they looking for him, or was Leo still not allowing them to go topside?

"You remind me of my brother," Raph said out of the blue. As in, really, he hadn't meant to say that. He did, however, prefer talking to Jet about something he actually understood, for a change.

Jet's hushed analysis had cut off abruptly, and he looked at Raph with a mildly curious gaze. "Is that so?"

"Yeah," Raph stared back blankly, not really sure why he was talking in the first place. "Donny is really smart. He's the doctor in our family."

Jet held his eyes for a moment, then poked him again with the stick, though his tone grew softer. "Do you miss them?"

"Sometimes," Raph shrugged. He had always been uncomfortable talking about his family, even around Casey. They were kind of a touchy subject for him. He had absolutely no idea as to why he now felt more at ease, talking about them, among these criminals and thieves than he did with his own friends.

A loud knock on the door drew Raph out of his thoughts, and he suddenly got a very sick feeling in his stomach. Something didn't seem right; the atmosphere in the room had changed to become dark and ominous.

"Jet! Let me in!" An authoritative voice barked, but it didn't belong to Flame. Raph had heard it before. He started to shiver.

"Sorry, Nathan, Flame said no visitors," Jet snapped back, in a protective tone very uncharacteristic of the intellectual.

"I'm second-in-command, so you must do as I say in Flame's absence. I order you to open this door!"

At this, Jet actually stopped his ceaseless prodding. "Nathan, I'm warning you-"

"What? What are you gonna do?"

"When Flame finds out about this-"

"Oh, please. All anyone ever talks about around here is Flame this, Flame that. If he's such a great leader, why has he let that thing you're hiding in there stay with us for so long? Why has he been keeping secrets from everyone? Huh?"

"I couldn't tell you. It isn't my business what secrets Flame keeps." Jet's cheeks were flushed a deep red, and he looked angrier than Raph had ever seen him. Again, he couldn't help but think of Donny, and how scary he could be on the rare occasion he GOT mad.

Nathan's voice was low and sarcastic in his response. "But it is, isn't it? Because he trusts you to take care of that creature, but he doesn't trust his own right-hand man. No, I had to find out all by myself. It seems like I'm the only one who ever wants to get anything done around here. Your fearless leader would have us all sitting around on our butts all day, while the human race runs us right over."

"Control yourself, Nathan! Your temper has always been able to get the best of you, which is precisely why I can understand Flame leaving out a little information here and there. Your way isn't always the right way. You should trust that your fearless leader has his reasons."

There was silence for what seemed like an eternity before Nathan spoke again. "Jet, I'm gonna give you three seconds to open this door. One."

Something slammed into the door, and it shook on its' hinges. Jet's eyes went wide, but he reacted quickly, pushing his chair up against the door. It would buy them a little time.

Raph stood up quickly, and the motion made his head pound. Jet whipped a transmitter out of his pocket.

"Two," came the calm, cold voice, and all Raph knew was that he couldn't let that mad man get across that threshold. Another hard slam, and the wood was starting to splinter. Raph threw himself up against the door, holding it in place.

"Flame, come in! Come in! Nathan has gone berserk! He's gonna hurt Raph! Flame, you've gotta hear me!" Jet was shouted into his transmitter, a wild panic in his voice. Flame didn't respond. "I repeat: Nathan's gonna kill him! Flame!"

"Three!" Nathan yelled from the other side of the door. "Jet, you and that thing are both going to get it! Flame, too, when he comes crawling back here!"

With a final shudder, the door gave way under the maniac's weight, and it was all Raph could do to cover his head and try not to get a shard of wood in the eye. Nathan burst in with a roar, making his way toward Jet even as the healer threw down his transmitter and pulled out a syringe.

"Don't try me, Nathan," Jet warned, but Nathan kept on coming. Jet was breathing hard, Raph could see reality setting in. Jet managed to choke out another word. "Brother-"

With an experienced block, Nathan knocked the syringe from Jet's shaking hands, and Raph could now see what he was up against. This guy was pure fighter. His muscles barely rippled as he threw Jet's wiry frame across the room, howling in rage. Raph would have been in awe if this guy wasn't about to kill him.

Most astonishing proved to be a shock of white hair that ran long down the man's back, tied loosely into a ponytail. An endless stream of tattoos ran up one arm and down the other. Even Nathan's face was covered with ink. A large black mask that must have hurt like hell was permanently engraved into his ghastly expression. He might have been handsome once, but all of that was ruined by what he had done to himself.

All this Raph noticed as if he were operating out of time; he was aware of Jet flying in slow motion through the air, his brain hitting the wall sharply, neck jerking awkwardly. Raph could tell the healer was dead before he hit the ground.

Raph took a moment to mourn, his head throbbing now. It took an agonizingly long couple of seconds for him to turn his head back toward his assailant, who was now sneering down at him mockingly. With a look of devilish glee, Nathan pointed a finger toward where Raph lay helpless on the floor.

"You're next."

Ooh, scary. Please R&R!

-DauntlessAdrenaline