I'm My Own Worst Enemy: Chapter1

Rating: this Chapter T but that will escalate closer to M in later chapters

Warnings: mild cursing

And No I Do not own TMNT

"Donnie, come on ya been up damn near 48 hrs. Yer goin' ta bed if I got ta drag ya there and knock yer sorry ass out" Raphael threatened as he looked down menacingly at Don

"Raph I'm fine, really just a little insomnia it'll even it's self out" Don sighed and looked up at his brother almost pleadingly. He didn't want to have this conversation especially with Raphael who would literally throw him over his shoulder and cart him to bed if he thought it necessary.

For some reason the past couple of weeks his nightmares about the alternate reality he had been thrown into a couple of years ago had tripled and increased in intensity. They had gotten to the point he was almost terrified to go to sleep. Every time he closed his eyes lately he relived the final battle with the other reality's shredder and if he had to watch his brothers die one more time he swore he'd go insane.

He had thought about talking to the others about it but he didn't want to worry them with what he thought they'd see as silly nightmares.

Something must of shown on Don's face cause Raphael narrowed his eyes and leaned in close "how 'bout ya tell me whats really botherin' ya and I'll think bout leavin' ya alone, otherwise yer going to bed and I make sure it evens out" he half growled.

Don hung his head in resignation he would have to tell someone eventually. "I've kinda been having a nightmare relapse." Don had practically whispered it but Raphael herd "Damn Don you havin' nightmares about that alternate reality again bro" He asked his furrowed brow indicating his worry. "Yeah yeah I know I'm too old to let a couple of silly nightmares bother me but ..." embarrassed Don had started to brush it off but Raphael cut in.

"Damn it Donnie they ain't silly ya watched us get killed right in front of ya. It might not have been us us, but it was still us and it was still real. Things like that 'ill haunt a guy. If it's botherin ya talk to someone 'bout it. We ain't gonna laugh at ya fer it, hell I have nightmares bout losin' one or more of ya. Ta be honest they scare the shit outta me and they really are just dreams, you lived the real thing. Ain't nothin' ta be ashamed of" Raphael gave Don a reassuring squeeze on the shoulder. Don looked up then seeing sincerity in Raphael's eyes he nodded.

Raphael pulled up a stool and sat beside Don, giving his shoulder another squeeze he said "Now I know I probably ain't high on the talk to list but if ya need to get shit off yer chest well I got ears and I'm right here fer ya" Don took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, he should have known Raph wouldn't hold it against him.

"It's the same Dreams I've always had about it. It's just that lately they are more frequent and …...well more vivid. Half the time I don't even realize I'm dreaming till I fall out of bed ….or my chair." the last three words were close to an inaudible mumble Don knew how his brothers hated it when he drove him self to the point of passing out in his computer chair.

Raphael's frown deepened at it but he said nothing and waited for Don to continue. Don Took another deep breath and carried on explaining "I don't know why they have intensified. Hell up till a couple of weeks ago they had all but stopped. I have no idea why they would all of a sudden start up again and to be honest they are just as bad as when I first got back if not actually worse." Don admitted with a depressed sigh slumping further down into his chair.

Raph thought about that for a moment "Could it be cause it's coming up on the anniversary of when it happened" he asked.

Don shook his head " I don't think so I mean it wasn't this bad last year and I would think it would get better with time not worse..." Just then the sound of the lair door opening then closing and Mikey's laughing filled their home. " Sounds like Leo and Mikey are back from early from baby sitting I wonder whats up" Don said as he stood a little shakily relived by the distraction his brothers return had brought.

As Raphael and Donatello grew closer the the main room of the lair Mikey's taunting reached their ears "Ha Ha Fearless leader Leo is scared of babies. Whats the matter bro she don't got no teeth afraid she's going to bite.."he laughed and basically bounced around Leo who aimed a halfhearted swat at the back of Mikey's head

"Mikey last warning knock it off . I mean it " Leo growled as he flopped down on the couch crossing his arms over his plastron and pointedly looked anywhere but at Mikey.

Raph and Don exchanged a intrigued look, if they didn't know better it looked almost as if Leo was pouting " okay Screw ball what's this shit bout Leo bein' scared of babies" Raph asked drawing Mikeys attention away from Leo who sighed in defeat and hung his head. He knew he would never get to live this night down for as long as he lived.

Mikey beamed at Raph and Don and began to tell what he obviously thought to be the best story ever

"OK so like April and Case are headed out on their date night right, and at first I didn't think anything of it when Leo like steps back and lets me take Shadow from April." He says excitedly patting the air as he rambles.

"So anyway the night goes on and Leo ain't even tried to hold her. Hey you guys ever notice that in like the whole three months since she's been born he ain't never held her once dudes I mean seriously think about it not once." He exclaims with a shrug and a shake of his head. "Any way I get her into bed and all, and soon she all like startin to fuss right and Leo's watching some boring history channel crap right so I'm bored as shell anyway so I jump up and get her right and I'm bouncing her and talkin to her" he says will mimicking the movements he's describing getting quite animated about it.

"And I go to start making her her bottle right and end up drop the whole damn can of formula on the floor. well it busts open and powder goes every where right it's like all over me. Somehow I the amazing Michelangelo manage to keep it from getting on her though. Am I like totally boss or what. Anyway I get the second can out and fix her her bottle right but by this time the stuff that's on me is getting sticky and I still need to be careful not to get it on her cause she's already had her bath and all, and I remember how April said to many baths will dry her skin out." he says looking very proud of himself.

"well I can't even sit down to feed her cause I'm like literally covered head to toe. I know April will go totally ape shit if I get it on her new chairs so I take her over to Leo right and I'm like here bro take her I got to go take a shower fast and I pass her off . So I run and have a quick shower right and I come back out and here's Leo looking a good 5 shades lighter and holding the poor kid out at arms length walkin back an forth in front of the couch trying to talk to her in his lecture tone as if that's gonna sooth her and looking at her like she's got two heads."

At this point Mikeys laughing so hard he can barely stand. Don and Raph simultaneously look over at Leo who furtively glances their way and in a voice almost to quiet to make out he mumbles "She drools and it grosses me out"

Well that did it both Don and Raph both burst out laughing.

They had just managed to get the laughing under control when the perimeter alarm went off.

Sticking to the shadows of the sewer walls the four brothers cautiously approached the black cloaked figure. She was just sitting there throwing random pieces of junk at the motion sensor . But what drew the most attention was the BO staff leaning against the wall beside her. Tied around the middle were three ribbons one blue, one red, and one orange. The staff it's self almost identical to the one Don now carried. The brothers silently exchanged confused expressions.

The cloaked head tilted slightly then she spoke, her voice thick with an accent none of them could place.

" I know that you are there I can hear your hearts beat" Leo was the first to recover his composure and cautiously stepped into the faint moon light flitting down into the sewers. When she made no attempt to move he moved around in front of her to get a better look.

She was petite, pale skin with black tribal tattoos that almost seemed to move. The the few locks of hair he could see were a mousey reddish brown not quite auburn more like the color of dead leaves, she looked up at him and Leo's nearly stopped. Her eyes were solid pools of glittering indigo as if the night sky had been captured there.

Leo swallowed audibly "Your not human"

She tipped her head to the side and smiled "No, I most certainly am not".

Leo swallowed again "what are you then" tipping her head to the other side she paused for a moment

"I believe I am what you would refer to as a kind of Fey.. A Shadow Fey or Shadow Dancer to be precise" she answered and smiled at him again seeming very patient as he tried to figure her out.

"So your a Fairy?" he asked. She shook her head "No. Fairies are much smaller and have wings we are of the same family though."

Seemingly satisfied with her answer Leo turned his attention to her BO staff. "that staff looks just like Donnie's" he said as he nodded his head towards it.

she smiled again, this time Leo noticed how very sad her smile was. "That's because it is his... well it is and it isn't."

Leo had become so focused on her that when Don spoke it actually startled him "Your from the world where Shredder took over aren't you, where I went missing" Don asked.

She gave Don her full attention "Yes and No" Don's brow furrowed as he stepped closer to her "what do you mean yes and no how is that even possible you either are or you aren't" Don had gotten close enough that she now had to look up at him. Don got his first look at her eyes and gasped loudly. Tipping her head to the side she gave him her sad smile " a World with in a world so to speak. My world is a part of that world but separate. locked away if you will".

Don's brow furrowed deeper before understanding dawned on his face, eyes going wide he asked. "Wait so you know what happened to me in that world. Why I left my brothers?"

If it was possible the smile she gave him now was even sadder then before " It wasn't intentional if that's what concerns you. The Donatello from that world knocked over an old relic, an amulet and it brought you into my world. It acted as a portable gate if you will but it broke when it ported you away; As such you were unable to return the way you came."

Dons thoughts seemed to turn inward so she redirected her attention once again back to Leo who had been listening intently to the exchange and watching carefully in case she tried anything

"Would it bother you terribly if I were to stand my legs are cramping" Leo was so taken back by the question he almost stuttered... almost. "you may stand, but do it slowly please" she was being polite, Leo figured the least he could do was return the gesture.

By this time Don had once again collected his thoughts. "So if your here that means that worlds me has returned and found his brothers dead. But why are you here?" turning so she could face him she replied "To warn you of a new and dangerous foe but is not the best place for further questions it isn't safe." with that she gently picked up her BO and turned her back to the turtles as if to walk away.

Don reached out and caught hold of her arm turning her back to him " wait who is this new enemy" Tears seemed to shimmer in her eyes for a moment before she said the what he had been fearing most since he'd started to figured things out. With one word she brought his world crashing down around him.

"You".