A/N: So, if you haven't read The Long Way Home, I advise that you do. But then again, you don't REALLY have to. You could just tag along for the ride and see where it takes you. I'm easy that way, sweeties.

So this would be set one year after the end of The Long Way Home. And yeah, the Mistress is coming back, so lock Leonardo up somewhere safe this time - and keep Mikey away as well - she may be on the prowl for fresh meat.

'Her ancient eyes were upon me - they were familiar and black

She laid her claws all up on me, she had found me at last.

…And the beast was upon me, honey,

I guess it wasn't so bad' –The Quotidian Beasts, by Phosphorescent

Scar Tissue

Chapter 1 - Damage Remains

Donatello turned in his seat, body still facing the screen of his computer, but head turned towards the doorway that led to the outer rooms of the lair. He sat rigidly, one hand suspended over the keyboard as if some invisible strings held it in place. The sound came again and he bolted. The worn-in chair spun in a lazy circle now devoid of its usual occupant.

Leo was panting; wide eyes open but glazed; braced on splayed hands and knees on the floor; head held low and at an angle as if he were listening to something or for something, Don wasn't sure. All he knew was that there'd been a strangled sound. A muffled gasping cry. Not quite a shout of pain, but close enough, with an edge to it, making it sound like . . . something else. And it had come from this room. His brother's room.

Don paused for a moment where he stood in the doorway then surged forward; falling to his knees. He pushed back the tangle of blankets that were wrapped around Leo's legs and feet. Had he simply fallen out of bed? Did Leo ever fall out of bed? Was he sleepwalking? He and Mikey both had been known to sleepwalk, but Don didn't recall his oldest brother ever doing that.

"Leo, are . . . what's wrong. Is something hurting you?"

As Don placed his hands on his brother's shell and shoulder, he felt Leo's body jump then shudder. He pulled back his hands and blinked in confusion. Don dropped his hands to his lap and sighed in frustration.

"Okay, tell me what happened."

"D-Dream. It was a . . . only a dream," Leo said quietly more to himself than to Don.

"You had a bad dream?" Don asked for clarification. If that's what this was all about it must have been some nightmare. He rubbed the back of his head as his nerves began to calm. Nothing was more startling and unsettling than hearing a frightened or pained shout in the silence of the middle of the night.

"Not real," Leo murmured breathlessly then repeated it more firmly to the floor. "Not real."

Don released a sigh of relief then turned to stand when his eyes fell on Leo's mattress. Frowning, and still in a crouched position next to Leo's bed he moved closer. With a tentative motion, he reached out with one finger and traced it through the large crimson stain surrounded by spatters of varying circles that sullied Leo's otherwise white sheet. Wet. It was fresh. His face snapped to Leo.

A terrified shriek shattered the quiet of the lair. Leo and Don jumped up. They raced from the room. Leo vaulted over the side of the railing while Don took the stairs down in leaps and bounds. Splinter staggered into the center of the room, clutching at the fur on his chest and holding up his claws in front of his face. His expression was a mask of fright and confusion. Leo was by his side in a second, speaking low and soothing sounds as he gently guided him back to sit on the sofa. He eased him down and shot his eyes to Donnie who hovered just beyond.

"Tea."

Donnie nodded and raced into the kitchen. He set the tea pot on the burner and started it. As he pulled Master Splinter's mug down from the cabinet he heard Mikey and Raph's sleepy questions as they emerged from their respective rooms. Don stared at the tip of his finger, still red with Leo's blood. Rubbing it between his thumb and finger until the blood was smeared, he looked over his shoulder into the living room.

Mikey had joined Master Splinter on the couch now. One hand rubbed the sleep from his eyes while his other arm draped carefully around Splinter's shoulders. Raph paced in agitation just beyond the group in front of the television set. Leo continued to crouch in front of their father, calming their Sensei by taking his hands gently but firmly in his as he continued to lower them away from where the rat tore at the fur at his chest and throat.

As the tea pot whistled, Donnie only caught part of what his brother murmured.

". . . gonna hurt you. No. No, Sensei. You are not a monster. You are our Father."

A/N: Dun-Dun-Dunnn! How long will this be? I'm not sure. I have to finish What Makes a Father as well, so I plan on taking my time with this. Deborah is my OC whom I really love and don't want to screw up her story line too much with a rush job. So, one step at a time, right?

I know I really need to start Part 3 of The Tender Trap and parts of the planning of the story arc are in the works, I swear. But part 2 of The Long Way Home has been a LONG time in coming. It was my first multi-chapter. And these thoughts just keep spinning in my head, distracting me. Especially while listening to the HAUNTING song, The Quotidian Beasts, by Phosphorescent - ya, blame them and their crazy cool sons for this.

Hey...you see that little box down there...would you mind filling it up with a tasty review for me?