Author's notes- I don't own the TMNT, any of their friends, associates or arch enemies just Karma.

This starts off at the end of season three, just before the episode 'Bishop's Gambit'. I really want to lead off onto my own kind of stories, so I'm only doing the main arcs of the cartoon series, like the Shredder's exile and... those other crazy important arcs.

I forgot to fill you in on all this stuff, so...

Good Things Come To Those Who Wait finished at episode 6 of season 3, when Professor Honeycutt was thought to be dead and gone and, of course, Same As It Never Was started at the arc where Ultimate Drako sent everybody through time and space. Pretend i'm not a lazy author who didn't write all the stuff that happened between the end of the Triceriton invasion and the start of the Ultimate Drako arc and it all happened.

Just for a recap, Mikey has Klunk (as you'll see here), Stockman was a brain but Chaplin built him a huge new robotic body, Leatherhead was temporarily living with the turtles but now has his own space and Professor Honeycutt has found his way onto Don's palmtop/a new robotic body. Oh, and did I mention Shredder's back in the picture...?

On with the chapter, Karm's point of view.

An Old Beginning…

I find myself being gently coaxed back to reality by the murmur of voices. Instinctively, I reach for my shell cell and flip it open to check the time. 23:27 glares at me and I blink back in defence at the bright screen.

'That's early for me to be in bed…'

That's when it all comes flooding back.

The shouting, the crying, an infamously heated argument with an infamously fiery turtle. I feel my eyelashes still heavy with the tears wept hours ago.

Sighing, I pull myself from the bed, the springs lurching beneath me. I flick the lamp on with one hand whilst tugging up my pyjama shorts with the other. Still a little dazed and eyes heavy, I grope around until I find a warm black sweater. I yank the clothing over my head to find the source of the warm material winding himself around my legs.

"Klunk."

I tut at the kitten, imaging my sweater to be more orange than black. His eyes glint in the dark, softening in a pouting manner at me.

"I can't stay mad at you, can I?"

Confirming that, I pick him up, cuddling him close to me whilst a purr rumbles within his chest. Gingerly, I push my door open with my free hand, the contented kitten cradled in the crook of my left arm.

"I think we should check on her."

My oldest brother's voice drifts up as I quietly pull my door closed.

"She wants space, give it her. She's probably asleep now, I haven't heard her crying."

Leo sighs, "I hate hearing her cry."

"Me too."

"Raph can be so… malicious towards her, I mean, swearing at her? What is he thinking?"

"He's not thinking, that's the problem. His anger can overrule him, like Karm's depression can overrule her. Neither are a good thing and as a combination, they're even worse."

"We need to do something to cheer her up, Donny."

"Any ideas?"

"I don't need cheering up."

I flinch inwardly as my voice comes out weaker than I wanted it to and two sets of deep brown eyes snap up at me.

"I'm sorry Karm, we just want to help."

"I know, Donny."

I sigh, giving Klunk's chin a little rub and descend the stairs. His yellow eyes close as his purr rumbles even deeper in his chest.

"Miaooow."

"I'm guessing he slept on your clothes again?"

Klunk jumps down from my arms as I get to the bottom of the stairs and Leo comments on my cat hair clad sweater.

"Can you tell? It'd help if he wasn't orange and most of my clothes weren't black."

My eyes follow the kitten plod into the kitchen, his long tail displayed proudly in the air.

"…I'll be back in half an hour."

"Why, where are you going ani?"

"For a run, I won't be long."

The blue banded turtle strolls out of the Lair, leaving both Donny and I puzzled at the twinkle in his eye and the smile on his lips.

"What got into him?"

"Beats me."

Don picks up the TV he was working on and ambles into his lab, muttering, "this is the last time, if Raph throws another TV across the room because his team isn't winning, he has to fix it."

I wander after my peeved brother, missing the cuddliness of Klunk in my arms.

"Sorry Donny."

"What for?"

He puts the TV down on his desk, his face contorted into a deep frown.

"Mine and Raph's argument, I'm guessing everybody heard it down here, huh?"

"Everybody heard Raph, but Karm, don't apologise, it's not your fault."

"Yes it is, if I'd just tell him what happened when Drako flung us across time and space…"

"You don't HAVE to tell anybody, not even Master Splinter. I haven't told him what happened-"

The purple banded turtle stops in his tracks, flinching a little at his words.

"Yeah… you haven't told us what happened to you. I'm guessing it wasn't pleasant."

"No, it wasn't." He sighs. "It just… Raph and Mikey had a great time wherever they went, and I got stuck in this… this… nightmare."

He looks up at me with sad brown eyes.

"I was stuck in a nightmare too, Donny, and it was all my fault."

"No it wasn't, I can guarantee it was my fault…"

A long, sad silence falls across Don's lab as we both reflect back on our memories. I finally speak, finding the silence too much to bear.

"What happened to you?"

"I-I… Drako sent me to our future…"

My eyes snap up and widen in horror.

'Oh please, please don't say I mess up this future too.'

"I ran away… Raph and Leo weren't talking; Mikey… poor Mikey was left all alone… April was too, and you…" his eyes start to glass over, "Shredder had his fun with you…"

"H-how?"

"…Your shell was ruined Karm."

I clamp my eyes shut and shake my head.

"No Donny! Please, don't, please."

"I'm sorry Karm, I'm sorry… it's my fault… I'll do anything so it won't happen, I promise you."

For the second time that night, I start to cry, unable to bear the tone of my normally happy brother's voice.

"I'm sorry." Don whispers to me as he wraps his arms around me. "I'm so sorry Karm."

"No." I choke back my tears. "We won't let this happen Donny, our family is not going to be split up because of Shredder, this ends now. He won't break us apart, I won't let him, even if… even if it means my life."

"Please don't say that."

"I'm sorry, but I mean it, we can do this."

"...I-I believe you."

Donny and I stand hugging for what seems like hours, when in reality it's probably only 5 minutes. When we finally break away, I give his hand a small squeeze.

"We'll be okay."

Solemnly, he nods then glances to the broken TV lying on his desk.

"C'mon, forget the TV, let's go watch it instead of fixing it. There might be some late night Mythbusters on."

He chuckles a little, "you always know how to make things better, Karmy."

"You bet I do." I smile weakly back at him.