"58...59...60. Six o'clock..."

Karai's stomach clenched and rumbled with hunger and she knew her count couldn't have been very far off. If she was right it had almost ten hours since the last time she'd been brought a meal. Which, if her captures were sticking to the usual schedule, put her escape window at exactly one hour starting now. Half an hour to climb to the top, half an hour to fumble at the beginning.

She rolled over onto her stomach, lifting herself to her elbows first before pushing up the rest of the way. She felt lightheaded and weak but she'd pushed herself through worse before. Even so, the kunoichi took a moment to regain her composure and let the wave of pain and nausea pass. There was no time for mistakes or her usual impatience, and as hard as it would be Karai knew she would have to take it slow.

Gingerly, she started feeling the stones on the wall, gauging the distance between each one, and finding her grip.

Because it was such an old structure the footing actually wasn't that bad. Many of the rocks jutted out to provide support and discovering that fact improved her chances and her mood. Using the wall like a crutch Karai forced herself onto her feet, stood there for a moment as she drew in a meditative breath, then began to climb.

On the first try she got a few feet up before slipping on a bad holding and falling back down. The second try she'd climbed ten feet when the rock she was holding onto broke away and she went tumbling with it.

'Pull it together.' She ordered herself, even though her butt and feet ached from the falls and her hands and knees already stung with scrapes. 'This is what you planned for, learn from the mistakes, don't get discouraged, don't hurry.'

So when she tried a third time she was more patient. She felt the rocks more carefully, wiggled them to test their durability before entrusting her life to them, and that's when Karai really started to climb.

Karai kept going higher and higher, and each new stone was a gamble and a blessing as it meant she was one stone closer to the top, but she was also horrifically aware that if she lost her grip now the fall would probably break her back.

She got so far up that the temperature changed, and she knew she was almost there. 'Don't you fucking stop now...' She begged her body when her arms burned and her hands and back cried out in pain.

Instead of Leo's voice in her head Karai now chanted to the sound of her own, pushing herself harder and harder, not letting herself give up. Leo was just the motivation to get to the top but she would get there using her own strength. Before this it had always been her father's voice that pushed her forward, but not anymore. Never again. When she got out of here she would be her own person. She would decide her own fate.

The sound of footsteps and faint voices above her made Karai's heart thudded wildly in her chest. She was almost there!

Karai forced herself to keep calm, to keep moving slowly and steadily. Knowing the end was near, her body felt lighter, the burning in her arms and hands barely registered anymore and all she let herself think about was the next stone.

Finally her hand hit wood, the solid wood of the door and just in case it wasn't locked she pushed against it, but nothing happened.

Karai took a deep, focusing breath and held on. It wouldn't be long before someone came to open the door. She just had to stay calm and keep her grip.

Just then, the sound of footsteps overhead pricked her ears and without a second's hesitation she screamed, "LET ME OUT!"

Exactly as she'd hoped the footsteps paused and start walking back towards the hole. She heard the sound of confused mumbling as the lock clicked on the trap door and prepared to fly. The door opened with blinded light but Karai jumped through the opening into a summersault. The kunoichi flipped out of the roll just before she hit the opposite wall, knocked the soldier's feet out from under him then pinned him by the neck as she caught her breath and adjusted to the light.

"Thanks for the help."

She unsheathed his katana and took it for herself before knocking him out with the handle, then dragged his body into the shadows. She replaced the trap door and locked it before running towards her old room. If it took them another hour to find out she'd already escaped it would mean more time for her to get away.

Karai darted silently from shadow to shadow. All she needed was her sword and amor, maybe some of her favorite books or cloths, then she could leave this place behind and never look back.

But when she stepped inside the familiar space all Karai could think was how foreign it seemed now. The kunoichi went slowly around the room looking at the meager amount of things she'd collected there. She ran her hand over the books, the futon, her old makeup, and felt nothing. No sentiment, no attachment, nothing.

She didn't even need to open the closet. There was no point in taking any cloths, there was no point in taking any of it.

A few minutes later Karai ahd just fasted the last piece of armor on when a noise at the door made her draw her weapon, and when she turned she saw her Lieutenant standing with his own sword drawn.

"It's rather impressive that you climbed out from that well...it's just a shame the effort was pointless." He snarled in Japanese.

"I'd disagree." She challenged, waiting for him to take the first swing.

Playing right into her plan the man darted forward. Their swords clashed violently with the sounds of two masked masters sparing to the death. Karai knew she had the disadvantage being wounded, but she knew this boy, barely any older than her, and that was his disadvantage. If she could get him talking he'd make a mistake and she would win. Just as she'd done a thousand times in the dojo.

"You'll escape here and then what? Join the Turtles? They'll all be dead soon."

He saw the shock in her eyes and took the offensive but Karai dodged just in time.

"You're lying." She hissed.

"They came for you a half hour ago. Not using a very well thought out strategy I might add. If you hurry now you might be able to say your final goodbyes before Shredder turns them into soup."

Karai wanted to scream but she knew the noise would draw attention, instead she poured that rage into her sword.

In one swift movement she disarmed the Lieutenant and had him sprawling on the floor with the tip of her katana at his neck.

She saw the cowardice in his eyes and couldn't bring herself to finish him, though she tried to keep the killing intent at the surface so he would stay terrified. "Do you really want a lie to be your last act in this universe?"

The boy gulped as he felt the sting of her sword on his skin. "I-I wasn't lying! They did attack, they're fighting in the courtyard right now...But they're not going to win! Shredder hasn't even sent out the second half of the Clan yet and they're already out of their depth. He sent me to bring you...so you could watch..."

"How kind of him." She spat.

With the boy's usefulness at its end Karai knocked him out with the blunt of her sword, then took his blade and ran for courtyard with both weapons drawn behind her. Blood from the wound on her back dripped onto the floor as she ran, leaving a red trail behind her but she didn't notice. All she could think about was Leo and his brothers. For a moment she couldn't believe they'd really come to save her, but the more she thought about their personalities the more easy it became to see that there would be no other choice for them. They'd risked their lives to save her.

Now it was her turn to save them.

She saw the huge hanger doors at the end of the hallway and prepared herself. A black mass stood in her way but Karai didn't even try to count. Silent feet carried her swiftly into the room and she raised her swords to cut as she ran, slicing down as many as she could while they didn't know what hit them.

Faster, she had to swing her sword faster, she had to move faster. She felt the sting of a blade on her cheek, her arm, one caught her in the side but Karai didn't stop. The woman became a whirlwind of blood, steel, and fury and she never stopped moving her swords.

Leonardo's chest heaved with the effort of fighting, but it gave him courage to see that his opponents looked equally spent.

Raph was right, the Foot had been waiting for them, but he, his brothers, and their father managed to remain in the high ground all this time, and the way was almost clear. He disabled the last of the Foot clan, only Shredder, Baxter—now useless with the last of his mousers destroyed—Dogpound, and Xever remained.

Splinter turned for a half second and his eyes met Leo's, and the blue leader knew his father was giving him the signal to go find Karai.

They could handle it.

But as he started to run Shredder yelled for the second wave and the huge warehouse gates behind him slowly creaked open. Leonardo froze mid-step. Second wave?

All five mutants watched the gates rise with looks of absolute horror on their faces.

Leo sank to his knees. They couldn't keep fighting, not a whole other army. They would have to retreat...Would they even be able to? Was this the end? Had he failed again?

But when the gates opened they saw a single silhouette holding two swords, eyes wide and furious, blood dripping profusely from her body that was a mixture of her own and her enemies'.

Confused by his prey's expressions Shredder turned and his sinister eyes went wide. "You..."

"Get...away..." Karai took a shaky step forward, raising her sword to challenge her father one last time.

He just laughed in her face.

"You honestly think you can beat me with that sword you can barely lift?"

"Karai!"

Leo wanted to run to her, but Splinter held out his hand to stop his son. "Michelangelo, now!"

Suddenly the courtyard filled with smoke and each of the five ninjas disappeared.

"NO!" Shredder's anger pushed away his amusement and the man turned to Karai with killing intent.

"You've cost me my revenge!"

Before he could strike a sixth cloud enveloped Karai and she felt strong arms grab her, she breathed in the familiar scent and knew immediately who had her. The woman dropped her swords as the blur flew with her into the sewers, turning sporadic left and rights to shake anyone following. She pressed her cheek to his as the knots in her belly unwound and squeezed her eyes shut tight. The ache of her body started to slip away and the last thing she felt was Leo's arms holding her tight before it all faded t o black.

The next thing Karai felt was damp concrete at her back and anxious hands pressing against her side. She felt cold and dizzy, but as the fog of her vision cleared she could just barely make out the angular face of her friend. His face was twisted in concern and panic, his mouth was moving but she couldn't really hear what he was saying.

"Leo?"

She watched his chest hitch as he turned to her with relief in his eyes despite the fact that he still looked like he could burst into tears any minute.

A big, bulky hand pressed against her forehead, wiping away some of the sweat from her pale, clammy skin and Karai wished it were warmer. "Everybody else will be here soon...just hold on a bit longer."

What did he mean? She wasn't going anywhere...

"Leo?"

"Yes?"

"Is your dad a rat?"

Leonardo started to smile but it quickly twisted into tears that poured down his cheeks and he bitterly wished he wasn't so weak.

"Sorry..." His head fell, trying to hide his shame but the tears kept flowing. She saw his lip twist up in a sad, resigned smile. "In the end you didn't even need me at all. I didn't do a single thing. I'm so useless when it comes to you..."

Karai had never seen a man cry before, and it really threw her for a loop.

She wanted to throw her arms around his neck and hold him close, or hit him so he'd know nothing had changed, but her arms didn't want to move so easily. Fighting like hell she brought her hand up to his face and made him look directly into her eyes. He looked so blurry...she could barely make out his features but she saw all the pain in his blue depths.

"You're not useless." The quietness of her voice terrified him but he listened. "You did save my life."

He clutched her other hand tightly, was her voice getting weaker?

"You set me free..."

Her eyes closed, and the hand on his face fell limply at her side.

"Karai?" Leonardo's voice shook and he picked up her hand and squeezed it tight, praying she'd just passed out again. He checked her pulse but couldn't feel anything through his rough scaly fingers. His hands were shaking as he dialed his brothers over and over, cursing them for not getting to the rendezvous point sooner. Leo had never felt more scared, alone, or useless as he sat there in the growing puddle of Karai's blood. The echoed dripping of water surrounded him, drowning out of the sounds of his frustrated tears.

The world was still black save for the sound of florescent lights flickering overhead. Karai pried her eyes open slowly, adjusting to the sensations of life as if they were foreign concepts.

The room was a dim green and blue, and as more feeling came back she immediately regretted wanting them. Every inch of her body hurt or ached or stung and she felt like she'd been hit by a train.

Karai turned her head on the soft pillow to get a better look at the space when she saw Leonardo sitting against the wall, his arms folded over his chest and his head dropping.

He looked so tired, there were bags under his eyes and his cheeks seemed more hallow. Karai began to wonder how long she'd been out, but as she lifted her arm to try and reach out for him she felt the pinch of needles and looked up to see the IV's hanging above her head. That long...

Part of her didn't want to wake the boy but another part of her wanted drag him out of his sleep and pound him with questions. It felt like ages since they'd talked normally, just the two of them in the apartment watching TV and telling bad jokes.

Luckily she didn't have to choose because at that moment Michelangelo walked in and the way his face lit up made her smile deeply.

The goofball jumped around for a bit on his tiptoes, trying to decide if he should hug her or not before realizing it wouldn't be right if Leo wasn't the first one to do it, so he threw whatever he was carrying—now long forgotten—at his brother's head and ran right back out of the room.

"Huh? What?!" Leo shook his head and yawned violently before becoming coherent enough to realize that Karai was awake.

She smirked at him and his eyes went wide, then she saw all the worry and weight lift off his shoulders and he scooted closer.

"You haven't been crying again have you?" She asked with a cracked voice that turned into a cough.

Leo just shook his head and smiled, but the more she looked at him the more worn down he seemed, as though he'd just been dragged through hell. And he looked so unsure, like he didn't know what to do, where to put his hands or what to say.

Karai patted Leo's knee comfortingly and that seemed to help relax him.

He told her about how they'd robbed an ambulance to get the plasmas and supplies she needed-earning an approving glance from Karai that made him uncomfortable and proud at the same time-how she'd been out for three days and everyone, even Donnie, had been so sullen the whole time.

Although he didn't say it she guessed that he hadn't left her side once. She looked up at the boy and wondered what it was about him that made him so dedicated? What did he like about her so much that he was willing to risk life and limb and suffer through sleepless nights?

But as she watched him talk, not really listening to his words anymore Karai realized she didn't care why. He wanted her, and that should be reason enough.

She stretched out her arms like a child and Leo knew instantly what she wanted, felt the thrill of it through his chest since it was what he'd wanted all along. Gently scooping her into his arms, blankets and all, Leo drew Karai into his lap. He felt her small arms wrap around his shoulders and heard her sigh.

They sat that way for a long time before anyone spoke up, but Karai wasn't surprised it was Leo who did it first. "I was so afraid I'd never see you again. I haven't stopped thinking that since you got taken and when you didn't wake up I...I'd never been more scared in my life."

He felt her grip tighten and he thought that would be it but to his absolute surprise she answered, "I thought Shredder might have killed you...I was so angry and scared I probably made a lot of mistakes while fighting."

She felt him chuckle. "Well, you did take out half your dad's army. Which was both the coolest and most terrifying thing I've ever seen by the way." But he brushed a hand through her hair, which had grown just a bit longer, and pulled away just far enough to press a long, tender kiss onto her forehead that made Karai's heart sing in her chest.

If she could get a kiss like that every day of her life Karai thought she overcome anything.

To finish the kiss he laid her back down on the bed just in time—as he predicted—for Mikey's patience to run out and sure enough his youngest brother's head popped in with a small, bashful smile. "Hi."

Without a moment's hesitation Karai waved him over and Mikey scuttled into place beside Leo to start babbling about what there was to eat. Everything seemed to be pizza flavored, and sounded a bit dicy at first but as he persisted Karai realized how deathly hungry she was.

She told the turtle to surprise her, and when he scampered off again Raph was standing at the doorway, stubbornly refusing to cross the threshold—although his big, mildly concerned green eyes gave him away.

When Leo beckoned him inside Karai noticed a real turtle on his shoulder and he pulled a handful of comic books from behind his back.

"You'll probably be hard up for a while. If Leo gets boring there's these."

Ignoring the sound of Leo' protests that he wasn't boring the Karai reached for the comics and flipped through their covers. Judging from the violent themes and wonderfully detailed fighting scenes she imagined they must have been from his personal stash.

"Thanks."

The three sat a moment talking about nothing in particular when two more figures appeared at the door. Donnie had April by her shoulders, gently supporting and pushing the girl forward but she looked terribly uncomfortable and reluctant. Her hands twisted together and she bit her lip as she looked at Karai.

Neither girls spoke but Karai understood what was wrong She pushed herself up on her elbows and Leo moved the beanbag chair behind her back so she could sit as though in a normal hospital bed.

"It's really not as bad as it looks." Karai claimed with a smirk but April couldn't bring herself to smile.

Raph moved back and April sunk into his place, her hand still folded nervously in her lap.

"It ah, was April's idea to rob the ambulance." Donnie chimed in despite the mortified glance it earned him from April. "Her quick thinking was probably what saved your life."

Karai offered her fist to April. "Now we're even."

April bumped the outstretched hand gently and despite herself felt the tears roll down her cheeks.

Leo patted her back and Donnie reached for her hand—Raph stayed out of it—but she tried to wipe the tears away as quickly as they came.

"I'm sorry. This is stupid I just...I'm so sorry. It was my fault you got caught..."

Karai glanced tentatively at Leo before cautiously placing a hand on the girl's shoulder. Surprise had April's eyes shoot up into Karai's as the tears continued to fall.

"That wasn't your fault. There was a million other ways I could have handled that but I didn't." Her voice was stern yet gentle, a tone she was entirely unfamiliar with, but her words seemed to calm April and eventually her tears stopped.

"I'm still impressed you goody-goodys would do that. There might be hope for you guys yet."

By this time Mikey had returned with what genuinely smelled like regular chicken noodle soup. Karai sniffed it suspiciously before taking a sip and the taste made her want to melt right then and there. She honestly couldn't remember the last time she'd had real food.

The six teenagers sat enjoying one another's company, chatting about weapons or TV shows, and the laughter echoed throughout the cavernous subway station.

When Splinter approached the source of the noise his snout drew into a smile at what he overheard.

"What do you mean Leo hasn't told you about Space Heroes yet?"

"Never mentioned it. What is it, American Power Rangers?"

Although Splinters' instincts made him nervous exposing himself to another human being, the rat stepped forward and the room quickly tumbled into silence.

He saw the shock Karai tried to hide and respected her for the bravery and self control she showed despite the betrayal of her eyes.

"How are you feeling?" The man asked causally, still standing above her bed while the others remained seated.

"...A lot better. Thank you."

Karai bowed her head in the traditional Japanese way and Splinter was quick to respond in kind.

"You have fought valiantly for the sake of my sons and our friend April O'Neil. I would like to extend our home to you, even though I hear it is not your first time within these walls."

His clever eyes connected with the four turtles and they tried their best not to look guilty.

"Thank you. That...it means a lot to me."

Karai liked the sound of the rat's voice, she like his calm demeanor and gentle face, but also acknowledge the power of a man who could go head or head against her father and get away without much of a scratch.

"When you are feeling well I hope you join us in the Dojo."

Their father bowed again and excused himself, sending the boys a look over his shoulder that they all knew meant to be on their best behavior.

Eventually Karai's eyes started drooping again and April hinted that maybe they could all leave her to rest.

Karai pushed the beanbag away and stretched out flat again on the futon, reveled in the release her muscles felt. It felt so good to lie down, though she imagined that after two or three days she'd get itchy to run and move. She turned to Leo and saw him settling back in against the wall and felt the strangest twinge of withdrawal. There was no other way to explain the longing she felt for the comfort and familiarity of his touch.

"No kiss goodnight?"

The look on his face when he turned to her was a priceless mixture of want and caution, but Karai tried her best not to laugh as she patted the space beside the futon. Leo bent to kiss her, just a light brushing of lips that wasn't quick or greedy, but comfortable and careful. When he pulled away he stretched out on the floor next to her and she reached out for his hand. Karai nuzzled into his shoulder and they both let out a collective sigh of exhaustion and content.

The masked warrior let his head fall heavily to the side to stare at the girl next to him and marveled at how beautiful she looked despite all the horrible things she'd been through that past week. He loved her nose and the way her bangs fell into her eyes, the way her lips moved with silent words or sounds when she slept, and the sparkle she got in her eyes when she plotted some new terrible prank. Any human in his right mind would probably fall for her, yet here she was with a creature like him.

He thought about what she said in the sewer about being set free and wondered humbly if that really was so true. In the end she'd done that herself as well. He'd merely provided the stepping stones. She could easily have chosen to leave him behind in the dust that first morning, or when she'd healed enough, or when his family tried to test her loyalties. But instead she took a chance and here she was.

His hand tightened around hers instinctively but she didn't stir.

The mutant didn't know what lay ahead for them but he hoped it was something good. He hoped that the rockiest parts of their journey was behind them, but he also knew that life was never that simple. If anything it would probably just get harder. He didn't even really knew where Karai stood on the spectrum of "good" and "bad" but for the moment she was a good person and that's all he would care about. He'd simply do his best to make her happy each and every day, to replace the family she'd missed out on for so long, and try not to expect too much in return.