"Karai! Please! It's me, Leonardo!"

The snake mutant stopped in its tracks and turned its head, the smaller snake heads on the ends of her arms turning with her. Leonardo held his breath for a moment and seeing he had her attention, inched slowly towards her.

Palms up and arms outstretched he tried to talk to her in a soft, soothing voice. He had managed to reach this point before only to have her bolt in the last second.

"We can help you, Karai. Come home with me. I'll keep you safe."

Karai tilted her head to the side and seemed to process his words. Leonardo waited hopefully. Maybe his words would reach her this time.

"Leeeeeo?"

"Yes!" She flinched at his exclamation and he lowered his tone again trying to keep his excitement at bay. She had recognized him! He was close enough to touch her and he decided he could risk it so he slowly brought his hand to her face letting her see his intentions but not touching her skin, waiting to see her reaction.

"Yes, it's me- Leo." He felt so relieved he could cry when she nuzzled his hand and rubbed the side of her head against his wrist.

"Karai…" he whispered sadly as he knelt beside her. She would never behave this way if she was in her right mind. She was usually aloof and snarky, only showing him some form of affection in tiny doses and extreme circumstances. Now she was practically cuddling him and he was stroking her softly as you would a pet, offering all the comfort he could in the way she needed from him.

Her forked tongue tasted the air and brushed his forearm tickling his skin. She stopped rubbing her head against his hand and her green slitted eyes settled on Leo's.

"What is it?" He asked quietly after she observed him curiously in silence for a few minutes.

She slithered closer to him, her snake arm winding itself around Leonardo's arm and he allowed it. The snake head on the end snuggled into the palm of his hand and he curled his fingers carefully around it. She leaned her body against his plastron and he leaned back when she moved her face to his.

"This reminds me of old times," he mumbled under his breath. "I hope you don't have any blinding power on you this time." He couldn't help smiling sadly at the memory.

Her forked tongue darted out again against his cheek and the corner of his mouth. "You're not thinking of eating me, are you? I've been told I smell quite tasty." He smiled and searched her eyes for any signs of understanding but no sooner had he finished speaking there was a loud noise on the other side of the warehouse, startling them both.

He was yanked to the side by his arm as Karai made to escape still wound around him. "Wait! Karai come with me!"

She turned and hissed at him, all recognition gone from her face. She released herself from his hold and fled into the night.

He tried to follow but lost track of her and was forced to return home once again empty handed. When Master Splinter asked him, as usual, if there was any sign of his daughter he decided to just say no. He didn't want the knowledge of how faded her mind was to break his father's heart… like it had broken his own.