TMNT: The Darkest Fear

“Leo, I think we are lost and I have to go potty!” Mikey cried. As they wondered through the sewer.  The snow had been falling the entire time.

“We told you to go before we left the lair!” Raph snapped, “and you’re not five! Who saids potty?”

“Well, I forgot,” Mikey cried. Mikey looked up at the street greats snow was falling down. “Look it’s funny rain!” Mikey finally commented.

“Mikey that’s not rain it’s snow,” Donnie said.

“Snow? what is then?” Mikey asked as the flakes hit his green skin.

“Snow is composed of small ice particles, it is----” Donnie stopped when Raph flicked his head.

“Raph that is not nice,” Leo said. “We need keep going, it’s getting cold.”

They walked on for forty-five minutes, it felt like they were going in circles. Donnie and Leo were trying to make sense of where they were, it looked unfamiliar to both of them. Raph was following behind making fun of the fact the so-called leader and the brainiac were lost. Mikey was bored and began kicking rocks. One rock flew to high and hit Raph in the back of the head.

“Mikey!” Snapped Raph as he turned around and began to chase Mikey. “Get back here!”

Mikey ran onto a make shift wooden bridge, Raph followed him onto it. The wood cracked under their weight. They fell down the hole, their screams filled the tunnel.

Raph and Mikey hit the ground hard. Raph landed awkwardly on his arm. Mikey landed on his back, but he hit is head hard.

“I don’t gotta go potty anymore,” Mikey croaked.

“Eww Mikey!” Raph groaned, rubbing his arm.

“Raph! Mikey!” Leo called. “Can you hear me?”

“Yeah,” Raph shouted, but it was faint to Leo and Donnie.

“You hurt?” Leo asked.

“My arm hurts,” Raph said.

“What about Mikey?” Leo asked.

Raph looked at Mikey, he was now laying on his side moaning. Raph poked Mikey. “Mikey! Stop playing,”

“. . . Head. . .” Mikey moaned.

“He is complaining about his head,” Raph called.

“I don’t feel good,” Mikey cried, as he started to cough.

“Raph can you jump up to the ledge? Or stand on each other’s shoulders?” Leo asked

“No,” Raph shouted angrily.

“Leo how can we get them out?” Donnie asked.

Mikey crawled over to Raph and tried to climb into his lap, but with his good hand Raph held him off.

“But Raphie, it hurts. . .” Mikey cried.

“Shut up Mikey, my arm hurts too. Besides it’s your fault we are down here!” Raph snapped as he was cradling his right arm in his left. Using his left hand he untied his mask from his face and use it to form a sling.

“It was an accident!” Mikey shouted “and I feel dizzy,” Mikey sniffled as he curled up not too far from Raph, crying softly.
----
Leo was pacing around talking to himself. Donnie was sitting on the ground trying to think of a plan as well.

“How can we get them out of there?” Leo repeated, “We need rope,” Leo said.

“From where? We don’t even know where we are or how to get back.” Donnie said, “Well, maybe they can use the board that broke?”

“Raph the board broke can you use it to climb out?” Leo called down.

“No, it was broken too much,” Raph said.

“All right then, Donnie and me are going for a little walk to see to see if we can find anything. You two should do the same.”

“All right Leo,” Raph called.

“Raph take my watch, Donnie has one so I don’t need it,” Leo said dropping it down, Raph caught it. “We will meet back here in one hour,” Leo instructed.

“Come on Mikey we need to see how big this place is,” Raph said using his foot to poke Mikey.

Mikey moaned and rolled over, unsteadily Mikey rose to his feet.

“Hurry up Mikey we have to hurry up!” Raph snapped.

Half dragging Mikey, they started looking for anything to help them get out of the hole they were in. Raph let out an exaggerated sigh as nothing turned up.

“Raph-rope,” Mikey’s words were slurred.

“It’s not long enough, but maybe Leo found some rope,” Raph said taking the rope.

On their way back Mikey was dragging his feet. Getting annoyed at his brothers slowness Raph went ahead.

“You guys find anything?” Leo called down.

“We got some rope, but it’s not long enough,” Raph answered.

“Thats good! Tie it to your belts and masks and the tie it to a rock as toss it up.” Leo instructed as Donnie sat down and did the same.

“Hey Mikey, I need your belt and mask so we can tie it to the rope.” Raph called, but no answer came. “Mikey?” Raph shouted.

“Hey Raph everything okay?” Leo asked panicked.

“No, I can’t find Mikey,” Raph breathed out.

“But he was with you?”

“I went--” Raph started

“Just go find him,” Leo shouted, annoyed that Raph left Mikey alone.

Raph did not answer, he just ran off to find Mikey. It took a few moments but he found Mikey. He was sitting against a wall with his knees pulled close to his plastron, shaking holding a hand to his head. Then it hit Raph, Mikey was scared of the dark.

“Sorry Mikey, I forgot,” Raph said using his good arm to help Mikey to his feet.

“It’s okay,” he lied weakly, as he walked with Raph back to the hole.

“You two okay?” Leo asked when they got back.

“Yeah, Mikey just got scared of the dark,” Raph said.

“You know not to leave him alone,” Leo said in a matter of fact tone.

“I did not mean to!” Raph snapped.

“Just get the rope up here,” Leo sighed. Donnie looked at his brother.

“Ever since what happened last year his fear of the dark has gotten worst,” Donnie said.

“I know,” said Leo, “Raph should not have left him alone.”
----
“I’m sorry Mikey,” Raph repeated, as Mikey tied his mask to the rope along with his and Raph’s belts. Mikey did not say anything.

“It’s all done,” Mikey said standing up, “Let me toss it to Leo.” Mikey walked over closer to Leo, “Here you go,” Mikey tossed it up to his brother.

“Thanks,” Leo responded. As he gave it to Donnie who  tied them all together; they dropped and end down to Raph and Mikey.

“It’s too short,” Mikey said, “even if we add Raph’s mask it will still be too short.”

“What if you stand on Raph’s shoulder?” Leo asked.

“Still too short,” Mikey said trying to judge the distance.

Leo sighed, “you two don’t move, we are going to find my way back,” Leo said.

Now it was Raph’s turn to sigh, “Okay,” he said, but when he joined Mikey his younger brother turned way.

“One more thing,” Leo said, Raph looked at his brother, “keep an eye on Mikey,” Leo mouthed, so that Mikey could not hear.

“What Leo?” Raph said nodding at the hidden message, but speaking so Mikey would not know anything was off.

“Be careful and stay together, also try to keep warm if possible. It’s really cold.”

“We will try,” Raph said.

Raph went to his brother, Mikey was sitting against the wall nervously staring ahead. “Do you want to talk about it?” Raph asked trying to be gentle.

“It-it was just so dark and eyes. . .were blood red. . .” Mikey was breathing heavy, “it was so cold, like right now. . .” Mikey’s eyes were wide with fear, “it was scary. . .I was alone,” Mikey began to sob.

“I’m sorry Mikey,” Raph wrapped his left arm around Mikey.

“They eyes were so scary,” Mikey was now whimpering, “it was so dark. . . dark.”,

“It will be okay, I will keep you safe this time,” Raph said dropping his arm from around his brother.
----
“You think Raph and Mikey will be okay?” Donnie asked Leo as they did there best to mark their way

“I hope so it’s dark down there, remember last time Mikey was alone in the sewers.” Leo said.

“Raph is there this time,” Donnie said hopefully. Leo juts looked at him, “yeah, your right Raph hates it when Mikey cries.”

“He said he saw red eyes, Raph teased him for months, yeah Splinter was so mad a Raph for that,” Leo let out a small laugh.

“He never told us where we found the two red lights he used to scare Mikey,” Donnie said, “did you ever think that it was Raph who scared Mikey in the first place?”

“No, he was with us the whole time and Mikey said it moved. Beside Mikey knew that it was Raph teasing him. He said that the eyes he saw were scary and blood red.” Leo said using a rock to mark the wall of the sewer tunnel.

“Mikey hardly sleep for a month.”

“Yeah he slept with one us for most of the month,” Leo added in.

“Hey Leo! I know where we are!”  Donnie exclaimed.
-----
Mikey’s head was on Raph shoulder. “Mikey I told you stop using me as a pillow!

“Sorry Raphie. . .” Mikey said resting his head on his arm, that were wrapped around his knees.

“I’m still mad at you for making fall down here.”

“Fine,” Mikey said, “I will leave you alone. . .”

“Mikey you can’t go, you have to stay here,”

“But I’m cold and hungry.”

“Me too, but we can’t go anywhere, because of you,”

“I told you I am sorry!” Mikey cried rubbing his head. Mikey stumbled as he walked.

“Mikey what’s wrong with?” Raph asked annoyed.

“The room. . .make it stop spinning. . .” Mikey’s knees buckled and he fell to the ground.

“Mikey!” Raph ran over to his brother. Mikey was laying on his side crying, holding his head.

“Raphie it hurts,” Mikey sobbed out each word. Mikey helped Mikey sit up.

“I promise you can use me as pillow now, okay.”

“won’t be mean to me?”

“No Mikey I will try not to. You want to talk  about what really happened last year?” Raph asked.

Mikey made odd little moaning and squeaking sounds. “W-well as you know we were playing hide-and-go-seek and I found this hole behind some rocks so I climbed in it,” Mikey bit his lip, “it was not too dark, so I was not scared. . .” Mikey sighed and looked at Raph.. “but after I climbed in the rocks moved and blocked me in. It got really dark; I yelled but, no on heard me.” Mikey started to shake uncontrollably.

“If you don’t want to talk any more you don’t have to,” Raph said, “I thought it would help, but maybe be not,” Raph sighed and put his left arm around his brother.

“N-no I-I want to,” Mikey looked at his brother, “It took forever for you guy to find me. It was cold and dark. I closed my eyes. . . And then I heard footsteps so I opened my eyes and the I saw them!” Mikey let out as gasp, “two red eyes staring at me! I felt like they pierced through me,” Mikey’s breathing became faster, “I felt them burning into me and I felt like my body was frozen and I could not move. I tried to yell, but n-nothing c-came o-out,” Mikey’s shaking got worst, “I could feel them coming closer and closer. . .” Mikey wiped tears from his eyes. “Sometimes I still see the red eyes. . . I can’t breath when I see them. A-after it h-happened when ever I closed my eyes I could see them. . .” Mikey took a deep breath to calm himself, “I-I s-still s-see t-them. . .” Mikey just broke down.

This was the first time he had ever really fully explained what happened, all he told them was it was dark and he saw red eyes. Raph one arm hugged his younger brother. “I promise I will not let that happen again.”

“How can you make such a promise?” Mikey asked weakly.

“I can and I will,” Raph said with dead confidence.

Raph remembered what Mikey was like when they found him. He remembered frantically moving the rocks with his brothers, hoping that Mikey would be okay. When they found him he was curled on the ground in a tight ball like a cat. He had been crying, but he stopped. Mikey woke up when they called him name. He launched himself at his brothers and began to cry all over again mumbling about red eyes and darkness. Mikey was physically fine, but after the event he was too weak to walk on his own, Leo carried him all the way back, while Donnie tried to cheer him up. Raph remembered he just wanted his brother to stop crying, half because it annoyed him, but also because he did not like to see one of his brothers hurt.
-----
It still took Leo and Donnie another half hour, but they found their way home, it was mostly luck that got them home. They had been gone for hours, and they knew Splinter would be worried.

“Help!” Leo called, Splinter came running to his two sons.

“Where are Michelangelo and Raphael?” He asked urgently.

Leo sighed and explained everything that happened. Splinter did not say a word until Leo was done talking.

“Leonardo, I would like you to me get the rope. Donatello I would like you to get the first aid kit, the skills I have been teaching you will be put to the test,” both boys nodded and ran off. Splinter went off to get some food and water.

After the supplies were gather they met at the entrance of the lair, “lead the way my sons,” Splinter said. Leo and Donnie nodded and left the lair.
----
Raph and Mikey sat down, Raph listened to his brother ramble on about random things. It seemed allowing him to talk about stupid things calmed him down.

Raph’s arm hurt a great deal, but he could tell his brother’s emotional pain was worst than his sore arm; he really hoped it was not broken.

After a while Mikey stopped talking Raph looked at his sleeping brother, he gave him a smile, he looked so calm, it was a nice sight since most of the day his eyes were filled with fear. Raph felt his eyelids get heavy, he too fell asleep.
----
Splinter followed his sons, he was proud that they thought to use markers to find their way back. As they went on Splinter asked is sons some more questions. “You said Raphael hurt arm, and he said Michelangelo injured his head?”

“Yes,” Donnie said.

“I am concerned, about Michelangelo’s head injury. I have not yet talk to you about head injuries, I should have,”

“Why do you say that sensei?”  Leo asked.

“Head injuries can be tricky, if he is to sleep his injury could become worst,”

Donnie’s jaw dropped, “I should have known,” he said.

“Donatello, you mustn't worry, I have only been teaching advanced first aid skills for a few weeks now,” Splinter placed a paw on his son’s shoulder, “besides Michelangelo likes to talk, with hope he has not stopped,” he smiled.

“Just one more left,” Leo said, “and we will be there.”

Once they reached the location of where Mikey and Raph fell Splinter began to call for his sons, “Michelangelo! Raphael!”

Raph jerked awaked at the sounds of his name, “Mikey wake up Splinter is here,” Mikey did not respond, “come on wake up,” Raph shook Mikey, “I can’t carry up the rope I only have one arm!”

“Raph what’s going on?” Leo asked.

“Mikey’s playing games he won’t wake up!” Raph snapped.

“Sensei?” Donnie whimpered.

“Easy my son, Michelangelo could be playing a prank, I need you to go down and check on him,” Splinter said.

“Me? Why can’t you?” Donnie was nervous.

“Your brother and you are not strong enough to help me climb the rope if I need it, there is no place to tie the rope to.” Splinter did is best to reassure his son, then he explained what to check for when he got down there.

Donnie slung the med bag over his shoulder and climbed down the rope.

“Donnie! You need to help Mikey! He wont wake up!” Raph shouted he stopped caring about his injured arm and was holding Mikey in both arms.

“Raph, let me look at him,” Donnie said gently as he began to nervously check over his brother, “Raph, I need you to help me. I need to hold onto Mikey while Splinter and Leo pull us up.”  

Raph nodded as he meet Donnie at the rope. Donnie slipped his foot in the loop and wrapped his arm a few times around to stabilize himself. Raph handed Mikey to Donnie.

“You good?” Raph asked.

“Yeah,” Donnie said, sighing. Trying hard to support his youngest brother. “Ready,” Donnie called up.

Splinter and Leo began to pull on the rope. Once they were closer to the top Splinter reached down and pulled Mikey up into his arms. “Oh Michelangelo,” Splinter whispered, brining his son close to him. His youngest son was not moving.

Leo and Donnie helped Raph out of the hole. “Mikey!” Raph cried as he ran to his brother, “I’m sorry!” he buried his face into his brother’s plastron.

“Raphael, it is not your fault,” Splinter said gently standing up with his youngest son laying in his arms.

“I-I ran a-after him. . .i-it was an accident,” Raph cried.

“I know my son,” Splinter said.
----
His sons followed Splinter to their room. “Donatello, remove the pillows from his bed. We want him lying flat.” After Donnie took the pillows off Splinter laid is youngest son in his bed. Donnie covered his brother up.

Raph immediately climbed into bed with his brother. “I won’t leave you I promise!” Raph declared.

“Raphael,” Splinter said gently, “Please allow Donatello to check over your arm,” he gave his son a firm look.

“Okay Raph,” Donnie said gently taking his brother’s arm in his hands, “I need you to move your wrist, does that hurt?”

“Yes,” Raph grunted, “but I can move it.”

“That’s good,” Donnie smiled, “and your fingers, you can move them too right?”

“Yes,” Raph said sighing, annoyed with all the questions.

“Is it numb?”

“NO!” Raph snapped angrily.

“Raph I am making sure your arm is not broken!” Donnie snapped.

“Well is it?” he grumbled.

“No, it’s just very badly bruised. I still want you to wear a sling, and not move it for a little while.” Donnie was back to calm demeanor. He carefully placed the sling around his brother’s neck and gently placed Raph’s arm in the sling.  

“How long will Mikey be out for?” Raph asked.

Donnie began to fiddle with the gauze in his hands, “I don’t know,”

Splinter looked at his three son’s who were huddled around their unconscious brother. “Your brother’s condition can become more serious the longer he is unconscious. I will need one of you to stay with your brother until he wakes up.”

His three oldest turtle sons looked at him.

“Anything to help Mikey,” Raph said.

Splinter smiled at his hot-headed son, showing is seldom seen softer side.
----
Raph was sitting next to Mikey, holding his brother’s smaller hand in his. “Mikey wake up,” Raph begged.

The memories of the events a year ago began to flood everyone’s mind. Except this time Mikey was not awake. Last time Mikey was screaming for fear, this time he lay silent.  

Leo stared blankly ahead. He remembered the night a year ago when they found Mikey in the hole in the wall. It took them over an hour to find him, it was Donnie who noticed the rock arrangement was different. They pulled the rocks away as fast and their small hands could move them. When they found him, he was curled up in a tight ball, with his hands over his eyes. He had been crying. Leo gently placed a hand on his brother, he was cold. Once he felt his brother’s touch Mikey knew it was his brother, he turned around and launched himself into his brothers arms and began crying all over again. He had carried Mikey all the way home, the entire time he softly sobbed.

Mikey was so scared, they had never seen him so afraid, sure in the middle of the night he would wake up from a nightmare, but that did not compare to the fear that Mikey felt right then. That first night Mikey screamed and cried the entire night. It took a long time for the nightmares to stop for Mikey.

Leo sighed, this new situation felt worst, this time Mikey was not awake. At least last time Mikey’s screams and cried of pain indicated he was at least somewhat okay, but now the silence they heard was deafening.

No one could say anything the only thing could hear was the white noise that they had long forgotten and Raph begging Mikey to wake up.

After and hour Leo went to check on his brothers. Raph was laying on his side close to Mikey, his injured arm was draped across his brother’s plastron. Leo smiled as he sat down at the foot of the bed and watched his brothers sleep. It was nice to see Raph getting along with Mikey, even if Mikey did not know it. Leo knew that Mikey annoyed Raph most of the time, they really did love each other they just expressed it in their own ways. Even if that meant putting Mikey in a headlock until he called ‘uncle’.

“Mikey, come on, just wake, please,” Leo sighed, “please Mikey, your scaring me,” he admitted.

“He’s scaring me too,” Donnie said joining is brother at the foot of the bed. Leo put his arm around his younger brother.

“All I can think about is what happened last year, all the screaming, the crying, the fear in his eyes,” Leo started.

“I never wanted to see him like that again, but. . . “ Donnie continued.

“At least we knew he was,” Leo paused, “okay---if you can call it that,”

“Yeah,” Donnie said, “I know what you mean.” Donnie laid his head on his brother’s shoulder.

“Donnie you have been studying with Master Splinter advanced medical.”

It was statement, but Donnie responded anyway, “yes.”

“What will happen to Mikey?”

Donnie sighed, “from the little I know the longer he is unconscious, the worst it can be. He hit his head, that makes it worst. . .” he was uncomfortable talking about. Splinter had taught them all simple first aid, Donnie was the only who expressed interested in learning more about the medical field.

“Donnie. . .I think he will be okay, I mean he is Mikey.  He made it past his paralyzing fear of the dark, now he is only afraid of the dark. . .I know that makes no sense. He slept with the bedroom light for a month; it drove us all crazy, but we let him do it anyway,” Leo sighed, “He would not go into the sewer for three months, he still sleeps with a nightlight.”

Donnie gave a half smile, “he has not played hide-and-go-seek since then,”

“yeah, and that was his favorite game too,”
----
Splinter went to check on his youngest son, when he arrived his four sons were piled around Mikey, as if they were protecting him. Splinter smiled and watched his four young turtle sons sleep. He wish the situation would not have been so serious to cause this rare site.

It was a long day, his sons have been though a great deal today. It was also brining up old wounds from a year ago, it was even difficult for Splinter to see. Every time in the past year Michelangelo woke up from a nightmare Splinter feared it would be because of what happened that day he played with his brothers. Most of the times it was, Mikey would wake up crying and Splinter would hold him close to his soft body until his young son would fall asleep.

“He...lp,” Splinter’s ears twitched at the soft cry.

“Michelangelo,” Splinter called out.

“dark…” Mikey’s breathing became unstable, he woke his brothers.

“Mikey, you okay?” Donnie’s voice cracked.

Splinter bent over and picked up his youngest son, the three older turtles moved so that Splinter could sit on the bed. Mikey’s small hands latched onto Splinter’s robe, his face buried into Splinter’s shoulder, crying. Splinter gently rocked his son, “Hush, Michelangelo, you are safe.” One arm was around the center of back, and one hand was placed on the back of his head.

“I...see...the….red...eyes…” Mikey squeaked out each word.

“Nennen koroti yo, Okorori yo! Bōya wa yoi ko da, Nenne shina!” Splinter sang softly to his crying son. It was an old song he used to sing to his own daughter and to his sons when they were younger.

Mikey’s fast breathing began to slow down, but he still kept his face hidden in Splinter’s shoulder.

“Don’twannabealone,” Mikey’s words were slurred together.

“You are not alone, my son,” Splinter said soothingly, “I am here, your brothers are here as well.”

“The...eyes….s-s-s-see them again,” Mikey’s words were filled with fear.

“Michelangelo, did you see them when you were with Raphael?” Splinter questioned gently.

“No, only now.”

“It will be okay Michelangelo, you are safe here.”

“Daddy…”

“Just rest my son, deep breaths.”

Leo, Raph, and Donnie just looked helplessly on.

“Sensei? Will Mikey be okay? Will it be like last time?” Leo asked, once Mikey was calmed down a little more, he had fallen back asleep and was now cradled in Splinter’s arms.

“Until he has calmed down and I can I speak with him I cannot be one hundred percent sure. There are questions I must ask him to be sure how he truly is,” Splinter responded.

“I just want him to be okay,” Leo cried.

“As do we all, Leonardo,” Splinter said moving one arm to pat Leo’s shoulder.
----
The next morning Mikey began to stir in Splinter’s soft arms.

“Daddy?” Mikey said softly.

“Yes, Michelangelo,” Splinter gave his son a warm smile.

“My head hurts.”

Splinter could not help but to smile, “Can you do me a favor my son?”

“Uh-huh,” Mikey responded, weakly.

“Follow my finger,”

Mikey complied, following the movement left to right and back again.

“Good, now do you see any spots or is your vision burry?”

“No everything is okay.”

Splinter nodded, “do you feel dizzy?”

“No, but my head hurts,” he whimpered.

“I will get you some tea to help your headache,” Splinter carried Michelangelo with him to the kitchen. Once they arrived Splinter sat his son in a chair at the kitchen table. Splinter prepared tea with lemon, ginger, and honey, then added some cold water to the cup to cool the drink down so his young son would not burn himself. He handed the cup to his son.

“Thank you sensei,” Mikey said softly.  

Not long after Leo, Raph, and Donnie made their way to the kitchen.

“Mikey!” Donnie called out running to his brother.

“Hi guys,” Mikey said weakly.

“We are happy you are awake,” Raph said smiling.

“How you feeling Mikey?” Leo asked.

“My head hurts,” Mikey said softly, “but sensei made me some tea that he said would help!” Mikey smiled, but it was weak. Mikey took a sip of the tea. “How is Raphie?” he asked.

“Better than you,” Raph said bluntly, causing Leo to roll his eyes.

They kept the day simple, they watched some TV and played with a deck of cards Splinter found a few days ago. It was only when night came, when everyone was on edge.

The four young turtles got ready for bed. Splinter brought Mikey come chamomile tea to help him sleep.

Mikey yawned as he rested his head against his pillow. Mikey tried to resist falling asleep for fear of a red eyed nightmare.

The next morning Mikey woke up after a pleasantly dreamless night.