My song of inspiration this time around was 'Speeding Cars' by Imogen Heap. And it actually makes sense! Really beautifully sad sounding song. I really loved writing this chapter too. Think of it as a climax if you will. Though it's definitely not the only one. Many more chapters to go until the end.

Also, this update was quicker because I have this week off. Don't get used to quick updates. Well, enjoy!

~The heart is the only broken instrument that works.~

"What! Did you do!?" Raph jumps forward toward Donnie. He grabs him by the strap across his chest and jerks him forward. "You idiot!"

Donnie turns his head as far from Raph as he can. He grimaces and a soft unpleasant sound passes his lips. He doesn't respond.

Raph quakes in fury. "Damn it Donnie! Don't start this!" He shakes his younger brother. "I don't care about Karai, so just freaking talk!" He draws Donnie down to his height, inches from his face. "Because you don't want to have to deal with Leo again."

April stands back at Mikey's side, but she longs to go to Donnie. Her legs shiver with the need to run and stop this ill treatment. But Mikey's hand on her shoulder keeps her firmly rooted. All she can do is stare longingly.

Mikey watches with sad, wide eyes. He hates to see his brothers fight, but he understands this is necessary. Donnie brought this upon himself by acting on his own.

Don reluctantly brings his gaze around to focus on Raph. "She's gone." He says weakly. "So what do you think?" Being rhetorical isn't his best course, but he takes it anyway.

Raph growls deep in his throat. "You idiot!" He shakes his brother again. "What the hell were you thinking!? Why wouldn't you talk to us!?"

"Because he knew you wouldn't agree." April says simply. All eyes shift to her, but she is undeterred. After all that's happened tonight she can't summon the strength to care about much of anything anymore. "He was sure he was right." She shrugs. "So he acted."

Raph jerks his gaze back around. His eyes dance with fire. "And you're supposed to be the smart one." He says through gritted teeth.

Donnie scowls back at him. "It was smart." He growls. "I waited until you were all gone. How much smarter can I get?" He smirks, but it is weak and uninspired. "It just wasn't smart when you consider the aftereffects."

Raph scoffs. "Isn't that the only thing that matters?" He raises a brow.

Donnie ignores Raph's invitation to an argument. "Do you still want the details or what?" He sighs. He averts his eyes.

Raph thinks about it for longer than he usually dwells on any topic. "Mikey," He yells over his shoulder. When he has Mikey's attention he says, "Go get Master Splinter. We need him for this."

Mikey nods stiffly. His usual exuberance in everything he does is lacking. "Ok Raph." He leaves April and disappears deeper into the lair.

Now that she's alone she has no tether and she rushes forward. She shoves Raph back and steps between the two of them before anything else can happen. "You don't have to be so aggressive." She scolds. She glares heatedly. "Like you told Leo, there's no point in senseless violence.

Raph snorts. "Yeah, ok." He bites back sarcastically. "This isn't violent and you know it. You're just being overprotective because Donnie is the weakest fighter."

Donnie scowls over April's shoulder at him. He, however, manages to hold his tongue. He's not the weakest. He could beat Raph if he really needed to. There's just no sense in it right now. It would only make things worse.

April places her hands on her hips and gives Raph an ever intensifying look. "Just don't touch him." Her tone is low, threatening. "Not unless he hurts you first."

Raph smirks coldly. "He has." Raph isn't sorry for what he says. "He hurt Leo emotionally – so he hurt me too." His brows dig deep down on his face.

April clenches her hands into tight fists. "Just don't." She doesn't want to fight anymore.

Raph rolls his eyes. He steps back. "Whatever." He wanders over to the nearest wall and leans up against it. He'll let Splinter deal with this.

April turns toward Donnie. Her eyes are suddenly soft and sad. She reaches up and touches his face tenderly. "You should sit down." She says softly. "It'll be easier."

Donnie shudders beneath her touch. They've been getting so much closer lately. If anything, this is the one thing good to come out of the whole Karai mess. "I guess." He reluctantly moves away from her and bends down, setting the chair right.

April takes silent steps over to the other side of the table and grabs the second chair. She drags it around next to Don's and sits down. She smiles gently up at him.

Don gives a halfhearted smile in return. He slowly seats himself. Even with her it's hard to be too happy right now. Splinter is going to be livid, he just knows it.

Mikey reappears suddenly. He runs with no particular destination, searching most notably with his eyes. As his gaze falls on Raph he perks ever so slightly and wanders over to his side. Still, there is an undeniable dimness about him, especially as he settles down.

Splinter is not far behind. He walks with a much cooler demeanor and has no visible sign of being worried about anything. Perhaps Mikey hasn't told him the details yet. He comes to a gradual stop facing Donnie. "Michelangelo told me you needed me." He raises a brow.

Donnie ducks his head. "Yes," Even his father's calmness is unsettling. He can only imagine how he'll feel once he tells him about the situation.

April reaches over and wraps her hand around his. She squeezes reassuringly.

Raph sighs heavily. "We've got a problem." He holds back on revealing it is all brainiac's fault. He directs his intense stare toward Don and crosses his arms. He silently orders him to tell Splinter.

Don swallows hard. "I…" He hangs his head. He can't bear to even look at his father right now. "Karai's gone." He cringes in preparation for the outrage.

Splinter stares expressionlessly at Donnie. He registers it the moment he hears it, he just isn't sure how he should react. He sees how Donnie expects him to react, but he chooses a different path. "So you chased her off. Is that it?"

Don is amazed by the continued calm his father puts off. He tentatively lifts his head and peeks at Splinter. "Yes." He squeaks. "I was worried." His eyes narrow suddenly and his fists clench. "And everyone kept putting off the meeting! I had to do something!" Once the words are out of his mouth he retracts again, ducking his head even farther.

Splinter nods. He taps his chin thoughtfully. "Well, it seems like you owe it to Leonardo to fix this." A frown twitches at his mouth. "Don't you?"

Donnie opens and closes his mouth around empty words. Only as April squeezes his hand again does he find his voice. "Father," He licks his lips. "Shouldn't we talk about this first? I mean, do we really want her back?" He could never say this if Leo was here, but thankfully he is absent.

Splinter's face tightens. He remains silent with much effort, letting Donnie speak fully.

Donnie shrinks under his father's intense gaze, but he somehow finds it in him to speak. "I mean, we still haven't talked about her in full." He reminds. "Just because she's left already doesn't mean we can't now."

"Hm." Splinter takes in every inch of his son's expression. "Is that so?"

Donnie isn't sure how he is supposed to react to such a question. His muscles tense painfully. "I think so." He says carefully. "More than ever really. I mean, now she's definitely a threat. She could go back and tell Shredder everything, most importantly our location."

"Perhaps you should have thought of that before running her off." Splinter tilts his head ever so slightly. "Don't you think so Donatello?"

Donnie sighs in aggravation. "Yes!" He throws his hands forward to emphasize his irritation. "I get it, alright!? I messed up! But you can't really be completely on his side! You know she was dangerous to us all here!"

Splinter is unaffected by Donnie's outburst. He replies coolly, "Do you really believe that?"

Donnie gapes. "Oh come on!" He drops his head in his hand. "When she came here you wanted her gone just as much as me!" He picks his head up and glares at Raph and Mikey. "As much as all of us. What's changed?" He looks helplessly at Splinter. "Or are you just trying to teach me a lesson?" He sighs.

"I don't know what to believe." Splinter admits. A glint of sadness shines in his otherwise neutral brown eyes. "She's been here for days and done absolutely nothing. She's definitely not like most of the Foot." He sees his son open his mouth to protest and holds up a silencing hand. "It's not that I trust her, I just don't see any reason not to."

"She's the Foot!" Donnie doesn't hold back. "What other reason do you need?"

Raph steps forward. "How 'bout Leo loves her!" He counters. "He thinks she can be trusted, so why shouldn't we at least trust him!" Raph glares at Donnie.

Mikey is more timid, but he can no longer stay quiet. "Raph's right." He nods. "I mean…she loves Leo too." He thinks so anyway. He hasn't actually talked with her at all. "She won't do anything to hurt him, so she won't hurt us."

Raph doesn't quite agree with such naïve logic, he even told Leo that himself. But there is faint truth in Mikey's words. Karai does at least love him it seems.

"Your brothers are right." Splinter nods. "I've watched her carefully over these past few days and she shows no malicious intent. Moreover, her fear of the Shredder is genuine." His expression grows hard and he shoots Donnie a sharp look. "She might not have gone back to him at all."

April jumps in before it escalates past the point of no return. "Master Splinter," She looks intently up at him. "You want us to go after her then?"

Splinter does not think this is a suitable end to their conversation. Donnie needs to admit that he is wrong, and not just to April. He can tell by how accommodating she is being that he at least told her. Still, they do need to think of what to do with Karai.

"Splinter?" She presses.

Splinter snaps out of his daze. "Yes," He looks back toward Leo. "But perhaps we should talk to Leonardo first." He thinks out loud.

"No!" All four cry in unison.

Splinter starts at the force with which they insist. More surprising, however, is that they are all in agreement. "It's that bad?" He deduces.

They all hang their heads and drop their gazes to the ground. They don't respond, but they don't have to. Splinter already knows the answer.

"Hm…" Splinter rubs his chin thoughtfully. "Perhaps it is best if we do this on our own then." He pauses for an objection. When there is none he continues, "First we will need to know exactly where she went."

"Done." Raph snaps his fingers. He grins triumphantly.

Splinter blinks at him. "And how is it that you know the whereabouts of a Foot facility?" He crosses his arms firmly over his chest.

Raph's grin slips into a bashful smile. "Well, you know," He twiddles his fingers. "Me and Leo would go out sometimes and…" He lets the outcome hang in the air. It's easy enough to figure out on their own.

"I see." Splinter frowns in disapproval. "Well, we'll talk about your secret escapades later."

Raph swallows hard. At least it's for Leo's sake. Besides, Splinter might forget all this by the end anyway. He has better things to do than worry anyway.

"Then the next thing to worry about is how we'll get in." Splinter muses.

"Easy!" Donnie pipes. The first sign of excitement since this mess started enters his eyes then. "I've got great tech that can get past any security." He chuckles to himself. "Besides, they can't be too smart. It is the Shredder."

"Alright," Splinter doesn't know what he thinks about this either. He's sure it means Donnie has been around some sort of Foot facility as well. In order to learn its capabilities he would have had to. "Then we just need to choose when to go."

Raph shrugs. "How about right now? I mean, we want her back and Leo back to normal as soon as possible, right?" He holds his hands up in question.

"I got it!" Mikey throws his hand in the air.

Everyone stares blankly at him. "Got…what?" Donnie dares to ask.

Mikey laughs at his family's' blank stares. "Oh you guys." He waves a hand dismissively at them. "You thought I wouldn't know something, right?" He chuckles. "But I totally do!" He clenches his hands in anticipation.

"Well then spit it out!" Raph barks. He glares in annoyance at his little brother.

Mikey scowls at Raph. "I will, I will. Sheesh." He perks up instantly after. "We have to go on Saturday!" He nods firmly. "They're sloppiest on that day!" He grins from ear to ear.

Everyone stares just as blankly as before.

The longer they remain silent the further his grin falls. "What?" He cries. He scowls from one to the other. "Everyone else can sneak around and not me?" He huffs. He turns his nose up in the air and crosses his arms over his chest. "You stink."

Raph rolls his eyes. He supposes it really doesn't matter considering nothing bad happened whenever it was he went out before. "Well, whatever. I guess that means we have everything we need."

Splinter frowns despite their good fortune. "Unfortunately we must wait for three days." He wonders if the risk of going earlier would be worth it. Leo won't sulk forever after all. He has a strangling fear that his son might even act on his own when no one is looking.

Mikey reads Splinter's expression instantly. "Don't worry Sensei." He assures. "Leo won't do anything stupid." He smiles softly. "He promised."

Splinter smiles, but not at his son's words. He is amused by Mikey's naivety. "It's still best to be safe." Who is he to crush his son's innocence? "So we'll keep an eye on him at all times." His eyes darken with seriousness. "Understood?"

Each of them nods. April, however, is a bit confused. "Um, what about me?" She cocks her head to the side. "Am I going to help get her back?"

They exchange uncertain looks. No one speaks for a minute. When they do, it is Splinter who says, "I do not think it wise for you to infiltrate the facility with the boys."

April deflates. "But Master Splinter!" She knows she sounds whiney, but she ignores the fact. "I can help! You've been training me and I can fight!"

Raph cuts Splinter off. "No way, April." He shakes his head fiercely. "It's too dangerous. I won't let you do that to yourself." His green eyes are especially passionate as he speaks.

April notices and is a bit caught off guard. She recovers when the thought strikes her that he doesn't believe she is a good enough fighter. She scowls at him. "You don't trust me then?" She gasps.

"Not with the Foot." Raph doesn't sugarcoat it. "You may be a good fighter, but you just started learning a few months ago. We, on the other hand, have been fighting almost our whole lives."

Donnie nods. "Yeah. We're not putting you up against the Foot." He moves his hand on top of hers and squeezes.

Mikey notices her eyes on him. "No way sis." He shakes his head. "Even if I wanted you to there's no way I'd go against all my bros and Master Splinter."

April huffs. "At least give me something!" She insists.

Splinter smiles softly down at her. "Of course." He assures. "You can keep an eye on Leo whenever you are here." Maybe someday she will be skilled enough to partake in fights alongside them, but this is not that day.

April scowls to the side and huffs. Still, she keeps her complaints silent. "Alright." She manages a tiny, worn smile.

Splinter lets his gaze wander over all their faces. "Alright," His eyes narrow. "Our invasion begins in three days."

The days slip by like molasses. No one has ever seen days so slow. Leo is especially miserable as minutes turn into hours and hours to days. Yet for the first day he does nothing. He mopes in his room while everyone else finds excuses to watch him just out of his range.

The second day he becomes aggressive. Anyone who dares to talk to him gets their head promptly bitten off. The only person lucky enough to go near him and avoid his wrath is April. She manages to talk to him and get nothing more than a breakdown. Unfortunately there is nothing she can really do. She holds him, but she knows deep down her words are hollow and a short lived reprieve.

Then it happens. Late at night the unthinkable occurs. "Master Splinter!" April screams from across the lair. Her eyes are wild with fear and her mouth hangs open. "I-I don't know how!" It was her watch. "But Leo! He-He's gone…"

Everyone is suddenly alert. Raph and Mikey drop their comic and leap from the couch, Donnie abandons the power cell, and Splinter instantly snaps out of meditation. They rush toward the sound of April's frantic cry. "What were you doing!?" Raph reaches her first. He clenches his hands in desperation.

April bows her head. Wrinkles crease her features and a tight grimace stretches across her face. "I…I just went to the kitchen for a second." She whimpers regretfully. "I was just so hungry…" She drops her head into her hands.

Donnie hears the tail end of her sentence. He walks up to her and places his hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry April." He pats her reassuringly. "We'll bring him back." His brown eyes darken noticeably.

Mikey picks up on his brother's unusual seriousness and his mind quickly clouds along with his. "Yeah," He nods firmly. "We swear."

April smiles through her tears. "Ok." She wipes at her eyes. "Hurry up then. You don't have time to waste."

Splinter agrees. "Yes my sons. Leonardo will not waste any time in getting to the facility." It sends chills down his spine imagining how foolish his son might be.

"No," Raph interjects. All eyes fall on him. "That's not where he'll go."

Splinter's gaze is most intense. "Then I assume you know where he will go Raphael?"

Raph ignores the undertone of disappointment. It's just another thing they'll have to talk about later. Right now though there's no time. "He has a secret place that they go to. Well, they used to." He becomes disgruntled, but he quickly pushes the emotion down. "Anyway, that'll be where he goes first."

"Which is where?" Donnie presses. He stares irritably at Raph. Knowing a name does not mean a person knows the location.

Raph smirks despite the circumstances. "Just follow me."

Karai locks herself in her room for the first day. She refuses to partake in any training sessions and no threats from her father make any difference. If anything they make her more adamant. She cries a lot too. It somehow feels good to be so weak and not be punished for it.

The second day she finally unlocks her door, but she only leaves for food. She interacts with no one and might never have spoken for days if Shredder had not barged in with a challenge. "Karai!" He slams the door open. "This is enough sulking!"

Karai is not startled in the least. She lifts her head slowly and looks dully over at him. "What?" She huffs. Can he not at least leave her alone in her misery? Shouldn't he be killing Leo anyway? He's far too furious to have done it already.

"I've had enough of your senseless sulking!" He points an accusing finger at her. Just as quickly as his anger seized him, sick glee replaces it. He smirks and his eyes dance with malice. "And it's time to put our plan in action."

Seemingly from nowhere Miwa pops up beside Shredder. "And we know exactly where the little worm will be." She grins wickedly from ear to ear.

Karai scoffs. "Oh please." She rolls her eyes. "Even if you know his usual spots, it won't do you any good." She crosses her arms. "He's safe at his home, far from anywhere you could reach." She smirks triumphantly.

Miwa breaks out laughing. "You're so simple minded."

Karai's face falls. She scowls in angry uncertainty at her sister. "What's that supposed to mean?" She's afraid she doesn't want to know.

Miwa simply grins.

Shredder chuckles. "You foolish child." He taunts. "You don't know him as well as you think."

Karai's eyes widen further with each passing moment. Her throat constricts and her heart beats double time. No…it can't be what she thinks.

"Indeed." Shredder answers her expression. "Your disappearance must have been devastating for the wretch." His eyes flash with malcontent. Still, the circumstances being as they are he can not be upset for long. "Surely he mopped for a while, probably a day. But then," He grins. "

"He started thinking. And soon he'll have set off to take you back."

Miwa jumps in. "He'll be on his way to your little hiding place." Her eyes narrow into thin slits. "Right into our trap." She giggles in twisted glee.

"No…" Karai gasps. "No!" She leaps to her feet. She clenches her fists so tightly her nails dig into skin. "You can't do this!" Her tearful fear rises to the surface all over again.

"Actually, we can." Shredder shoots back.

Miwa nods. "Yeah! And you'll be coming with us." Just the thought makes her squirm with pleasure.

"No! I won't!" Karai shakes her head fiercely. "You can't make me!" She retreats to the opposite side of her bed. She clutches onto the window sill as if it can save her.

Shredder stares her down. "Is that so?" He stalks toward her. His arm snaps out at her and he grabs firmly onto her wrist. "How about if you don't come I'll kill you too." He squeezes her roughly and jerks her forward.

Karai squeaks as she is so suddenly drawn forward. Her face then creases in pain and she clenches her eyes shut tight. "No way…" She manages through the pain. "You wouldn't kill…your own daughter."

Shredder places the claw of his other hand firm against her throat. "Would you bet your life on that?" He says in a thick voice.

Karai opens her eyes a sliver. She feels the cold pressure on her throat, but somehow seeing it makes it so much more real. She swallows hard. Any biting remark is rendered useless then.

Shredder smirks. "So what then?" He muses. "Are you going to come? Or am I going to have to hurt you?" He presses a little harder.

Karai whimpers. She leans back as far as he allows. "Fine." She grits out. Tears burn at her eyes just thinking about it. "Go do your stupid trap."

"With you." Miwa snidely reminds. Her eyes glint all the while.

Karai scowls with all the hate in the world. Yet no matter her efforts it is not enough to hide the sheen of tears over her eyes. "With me." She repeats.

Shredder smiles with cruel pleasure. He releases Karai and wraps an arm around her shoulder. He turns with her and puts his other arm around Miwa. "Let's go my daughters. Our family project awaits."

Karai's heart drops. Family project…how sick. But there's nothing she can do if she wants to preserve her life. And besides, this is the closest he's come to hugging her in her whole life. She can't help but want it to last.

Leo runs as if the devil himself is at his heels. His heart pounds in his ears as his feet slap against the ground. Each step sends a spray of water up at his legs, but he notes it only vaguely. He has eyes and ears only for one thing – the end of the tunnel.

Normally he would have surfaced long ago and ran along the streets, but he refuses to waste any amount of time today. The twists and turns of the sewers are much more familiar. Then in the next instant he stops. This is the one.

He climbs up and shoves the manhole cover out of the way. He scrambles out and up on his feet before bolting. He doesn't even bother to put it back. He is not thinking of himself and his safety. He can only think of their place and her. She'll be there. She has to be.

He takes a sharp turn and then he's there. He stands in the shadow of the broken, looming building. It's been too long. He shakes his head fiercely and snaps out of his reverie. He moves to scale it, but freezes with his hands at the ready.

He starts. His eyes narrow and his breathing quickens ever so slightly. Something moved. He swears there was a flash of movement. He tenses, furtively moving his hands to the swords on his back. As he gains a solid grip he whirls around and whips them out of their sheaths.

What he sees stuns him. He nearly loses his grip on his swords in his shock. "Karai…?" He gasps. Sure he came hoping to find her, but in all honesty he never expected her to be here. And on the outside no less. He sheaths his weapons. "You're here." A dopey smile spreads across his face.

Karai stands at the edge of the light cast by the streetlamp. Her expression is hard to read in the darkness, but there is no mistaking her body language. Her arms are crossed and she won't face him fully. She only stares emotionlessly at him from the corner of her eye.

Leo hurries toward her. His eyes shine especially bright. "I thought I'd never see you again!" He half laughs. His smile grows further. "I mean, you just left and I-" His brows furrow as he finally takes in her position and more importantly her expression. "Karai?"

Karai's golden eyes are dark and cold. She simpers, turning her head further away from him.

The light in Leo's eyes fades. His heart, once racing from excitement, now beats in fear. "What's wrong?" He moves closer still. He reaches for her.

Karai takes a quick step back. She narrows her eyes further and shoots him a furious look. She still does not speak. Truthfully she is afraid speaking might destroy her angry front.

Leo is further confused by this. The fear is slowly creeping up his body and suffocating him. His throat constricts and his eyes are wild. "Karai," He tries to reach her again. As he does so he sees it. He sucks in a sharp breath as he lays eyes on the three fresh marks on her face. "You went back to him." His voice is tight.

Karai scoffs. She rolls her eyes and focuses on anything but him. No talking. No talking.

Leo's fear is replaced by a surge of fury. "Why would you do that!?" He demands. Mostly he is just hurt that she would heed to her brother's chides. "I could have protected you." He sighs.

Karai shakes her head in disbelief. "You're an idiot." She squeezes out.

Leo starts. He blinks twice. "What?" He breathes. He jerks his gaze around. He is suddenly very aware of others presences. A lot of others.

A deep laugh echoes in the darkness. Then out from the shadows steps the all too familiar figure of the Shredder. "Well done Karai." He sets a hand on her shoulder and pats her gently. "You've made your father proud."

Karai cringes against his praise. What a double edged sword. She smiles weakly up at him. "I know father." She whispers. Her voice cracks at the edges.

Leo stares in astonishment. His mouth gapes as he struggles to piece this broken picture together. She can't have really led them to him. No way. No way! He wants to beg her to tell him this, but his mouth runs dry. All he can do is stand numbly before the monster of all monsters.

"Poor thing." A voice much sweeter than Karai's says from Shredder's other side. As she steps into the light it is revealed to be none other than Miwa. "He doesn't know what to do with himself."

Leo breaks out of the haze surrounding him and looks at her. The sight of her knocks the breath out of him. A chord of memory strikes within him. "Miwa…" He breathes.

Miwa starts. She narrows her eyes and glares reproachfully at him. "What?" She spits. She plants her hands on her hips. "How do you know my name?" She scowls at Karai fleetingly before focusing on him again.

Leo shakes his head and blinks repetitively. The image before him, however, does not vanish. There she remains, as real as ever. "This is your sister?" His voice sounds far off. Even if he's only seen baby pictures, he can't help but see the similarities.

Karai eyes him strangely. For a moment she forgets the impending doom. For a moment she sounds almost normal. "Yeah, so what?"

"She's not Shredder's daughter." He says almost mindlessly. "She's Splinter's."

There is a beat of silence, then roaring laughter. Miwa laughs in his face. "He really is an idiot!" Miwa points at him. "Me? That rat's daughter? As if!"

Shredder, on the other hand, freezes. While Miwa cackles, he panics. For a moment he doesn't even breathe. Only as silence falls on them again does he snap out of it. He can't let his daughters see him rattled.

Karai, however, notices. She gapes. Her eyes bulge from her head. "No way…" She breathes. "He's right!" She accuses in furious passion. "That's it! That's been it all along!"

Shredder stares her down. "Don't be ridiculous." He flashes his claws in front of her. "You are my daughters now and have always been my daughters."

Karai knows that warning, but she does not heed it. "You never did love mom!" She glowers up at him. "You were always lusting after some other woman – and that was her! Splinter's wife! So when you killed her you took his daughter as a prize!" She laughs at how convoluted it sounds. "You-"

Shredder smacks her across the face. He hit her with the back of his armored hand, not cutting her for once. He only hits to knock her back and perhaps leave a bruise.

Karai isn't expecting it and is hit full force. She is thrown back and hits the concrete with a loud smack. She gasps with the painful shock, but she stifles a cry. No weakness. She rolls over on her side and props herself up on an arm, scowling up at her father all the while.

"Don't talk back to me." Shredder growls.

Leo's face contorts in wild fear. "Karai!" Leo yelps. He rushes forward, reaching uselessly toward her.

Shredder whirls around. He drives his claws downward at Leo.

Leo jumps back. He grabs for his weapons.

"Karai!" Shredder barks. "Get up! This isn't a family project without you."

Karai spits blood. Her furious expression never dies, but it becomes diluted with terror. What should she do? What can she do? She stands slowly, regretfully. She slumps, making her appear like the walking dead.

"Karai!" Relief mingles with desperation. "Come on! Run!" He double thinks it. "Help!"

Karai looks dully over at him. She can't manage hate. Only misery lurks in the depths of her eyes. "Sorry…" She mouths. She's sure he doesn't hear or see. Then she turns away from the scene, wrapping her arms around herself in comfort. It doesn't help.

Leo is struck hard in the heart. His limbs feel weak with the blow. He watches her in horrific disbelief. "Karai!" His cry is weak, broken. He has no hope.

Miwa giggles. She whips out her stiletto and dives for Leo.

Leo finds it in him to draw his weapons. As much as his heart aches, his drive to survive is greater. He was taught to well to just give up.

Miwa slashes her stiletto in a downward arc. Her eyes burn fiercely.

Leo raises his katana against the blow, but he does not act offensively. If she really is Miwa he can not hurt her. He just has to find an escape.

The clang of metal on metal makes Karai cringe. She grits her teeth it is so unsettling. It won't be long before the tables are turned.

Shredder grins wickedly. He crosses his arms and nods approving. "Yes!" He encourages. "Get him! Lob his head off! Take off an arm!" He chuckles lowly.

Miwa aims low. She goes for the legs.

Leo leaps over the blow. He hops sideways, circling her as if he means to strike at her back. But he never attacks.

Then there's a scream. It takes him a minute, but he soon realizes it is his own. An unimaginable pain shoots through his arm and one of his katanas clatters to the ground.

He was ambushed from behind by a Foot ninja. The night cloaks him perfectly.

Karai ducks her head and sucks in a soft, stifled breath at the sound of his cry. She can barely stand listening to this. It makes her skin crawl, but she knows her place. This is her punishment. She must endure it.

Leo grasps at the wound. His breathing is labored as he hisses in pain. The blood slides through his fingers and chills him to the bone. Even as a ninja he was never comfortable with feeling or sight of blood, especially his own.

Miwa grins wickedly. She takes her chance and slashes him across the plastron.

Leo cries out and clutches at the gash. It's wide and bleeds profusely. His breathing hitches at the sheer amount of red.

Miwa snorts at how pathetic he is. She then ruthlessly smashes her elbow into his face.

Leo is thrown down by the force of the blow. He hits the ground hard, unable to catch himself.

His blood quickly spreads over the concrete.

Karai sucks in a sharp breath. She clamps a hand over her mouth and clenches her eyes shut tight. Tears sting just beneath the lids. This is sick. This can't go on. Just kill him already!

Miwa slams her foot up into his chin. The sound it creates pleases her.

Leo moans. He rolls over in an attempt to get to his feet. He makes it to his knees, but there is no time to go farther.

The ninja behind him acts. He brings his foot down hard on Leo's shell, forcing him flat on the ground.

Leo groans under the pressure. It presses hard on the wound of his stomach.

Miwa laughs at his predicament. She digs her stiletto deep into his uninjured arm. "You're gonna die tonight." She leans down in his face and drags her metal nails across his skin, tearing the delicate flesh.

Leo leans his head away, but it does no good. She follows his movement and rips more of his cheek. A slow flow of blood results.

Leo tastes the metallic flavor as the blood trickles over his lips. It sickens him and makes him fell full force the gravity of his situation. His world spins suddenly and his vision blurs. "Karai…" He wheezes. He reaches feebly for her.

Karai makes the mistake of opening her eyes. She glances from the corner of her eye and sees the full extent of his condition. She blanches and is suddenly sick to her stomach. His skin is so pale. His eyes are horribly glazed. She wonders if he sees at all.

Shredder bursts out laughing. "Foolish boy!" He walks toward Leo. "She will not save you now! She is my daughter – my soldier! And she knows it is time for you to die." He grins wickedly and raises his hand high above Leo.

Karai chokes up. Sobs break forth and tears spill from her eyes . She covers her face with her hands and shields her eyes from the inevitable.

Leo lays his head flat against the concrete. It's sticky with his blood. It brings tears to his eyes as he thinks of how much more blood there will be in a moment. More so the tears come as Karai's face flashes through his mind. She betrayed him. After everything, she really did it.

Miwa perks as a thought hits her. "Wait!" She stops her father. "Make her do it." She smiles impishly. She shoots a mischievous look Karai's way.

Karai tenses. Her fingers curl and form limp fists as she lowers them. Her eyes are wide and dangerously furious. "What?" She chokes out. Her body shakes in fury and terror.

Shredder hesitates. She is his daughter after all. Then he remembers all her midnight escapades, gone to meet with that freak. He glares heatedly at Karai. "Yes," His lips curl upward. "Karai, kill him."

Karai stands numb. Her hands unfurl as shock rattles her whole body. She swears for an instant her heart stops. She can scarcely breathe either. Everything spins too fast while reality moves so slow. "No…" She croaks.

Shredder raises his hand. "What?" He demands.

Miwa quickly intervenes. "Daddy," She steps forward. "Karai doesn't have a weapon." She twirls her own to emphasis the point. "She can't kill anyone barehanded."

Karai is too shell-shocked to retort. Of course they both know that's not the reason. Still, she somehow lets herself go along with it.

Shredder frowns and shoots a disapproving look at Miwa and then Karai. He, however, does not press the issue. "Of course," He motions to Miwa. "Give her yours."

Miwa scowls at the notion, but doesn't dare argue. She grumbles a few choice words beneath her breath as she shuffles to Karai's side. "Here sister dearest." She sneers. She shoves the stiletto at her and quickly steps back.

Karai mindlessly takes ahold of the weapon. It feels strange in her grasp, but she can not let it go. She shifts her glazed eyes to her sister. Somewhere there is a question lurking in her golden orbs, but it is never spoken.

Miwa ignores her plea. She rolls her eyes and orders with no lack of smug satisfaction, "Now do it." She crosses her arms expectantly.

Shredder stares her down. "Make me proud." He holds the praise just out of reach.

Karai stands motionless for an eternity. Her thoughts tumble over each other in a mess. She remembers all the moments leading to this, their moments. She envisions all the what ifs of the future, if only this had not been the end. But it is.

She finally takes a slow, heavy step forward. She grips the stiletto with both hands and they shake all the while. It takes all her strength just to stifle her sobs. Her tears continue to run freely. Still, she moves forward.

Leo lifts his head as much as he can. He sees her through half lidded eyes. "Karai…" Her name is no more than a wisp of air on his lips. He can't even beg for one last kiss. His lover has become his executioner.

Karai whimpers from the sting of his voice. She cringes and girts her teeth. She pauses for a long moment to collect herself. When she opens her eyes again she's just as much of a wreck. She takes another step. Then she sees it.

She jerks her head up and a light comes to her golden orbs. She catches her breath and nearly drops her weapon. Was that- all her thoughts die hard.

Karai gasps as a sudden force connects with her skull. It is so brutal that for a moment her world blackens as she flies through the air. Only as she hits her head on the ground does life return to her sight.

Unfortunately her bleary vision only shows her blurs of color. But she doesn't need sight to know that figure. That voice…it's Raphael. "Grab Leo!" He sounds strong, but she notices the quiver to his tone. Thank God he came.

She chokes out a laugh. She never thought she'd be happy to see him, especially not when it involved receiving a blow to the head. She hisses. She touches her head tenderly. No blood…but damn does it hurt.

"Idiot!" Shredder roars. He must be talking to Miwa. Or the Foot ninja.

"Go!" Raph snarls at Donnie and Mikey. "Now!"

They carry Leo awkwardly, but it's the only way they can run. The Shredder is right behind them all the while. They don't know how they're going to find a way to sneak back below the surface.

Raph turns suddenly. "Keep going!" He barks over his shoulder. "I got this!" He twirls his sais and takes a defensive stance against the Shredder.

"No." Splinter steps in front of him. "You go too. I'll settle this."

Raph opens his mouth to protest, but a sharp look from Splinter is all it takes and he is moving again. He pushes himself to catch up with his brothers and finds them getting ready to go down a manhole.

As they struggle to get Leo down into the sewers Raph focuses solely on him. He watches his face intently, foolishly hoping for some sign of life beyond his shallow breathing. He won't even open his eyes. He has to open his eyes!

Once beneath the surface a layer of tension is dispelled. At least they are hidden now. But it only opens up a more pressing issue. "How is he?" Raph holds his breath in dread.

Donnie is quiet for a while, scanning Leo thoroughly. Then he shakes his head slowly. "Not good." That's putting it lightly. "Honestly we shouldn't be moving him right now."

"But we have to!" Mikey cries. "If we stay they-they might find us!" He keeps looking fervently over his shoulder as if the Shredder could be there at any moment.

"Calm down Mikey." Raph sets a hand on his shoulder. "We'll be fine. Splinter's got Shredder busy up there, that ninja's dead, and Karai is knocked senseless."

Donnie furrows his brow. He frowns. "What about the other girl?" Donnie almost regrets asking.

Raph blinks. "Other girl?" He repeats. His face creases with fearful concern.

"Yeah." Mikey whimpers. "The one who tried to drag Leo off at the start."

Raph still doesn't know who they're talking about, but he works past the confusion. "She won't find us." He asserts. Could it be…was it Karai's sister? "Besides, she'd be searching as blind as a bat down here if she even tries."

Donnie would have normally pointed out that bats can actually find their way around just fine, but he can barely think, let alone think about trivial facts. "Should we wait for Splinter?" He mumbles, mostly weighing options in his head. "Or should we go back now?" He still thinks it's a bad idea to move his oldest brother.

Raph crosses his arms and glances upward. He grimaces despite his efforts. He feels horrible. The only thing focusing him before was the visible signs of Leo's torture. Now, cloaked in darkness, his mind wanders.

"Raph?" Donnie urges. "What should we do?"

Raph blinks repetitively and shakes his head to clear his head. "Do what you think is best." Still he sounds very distracted.

Donnie scowls up at him. "Raph." He growls. "What's wrong? Why won't you focus?"

Raph looks helplessly at Donnie. But he can't rightly hide it. "Donnie, just do what is smartest. I…" He takes a step backwards. "I've gotta go help her." He turns hard on his heel and is gone before anyone can say no.

Donnie gapes after him. "Her…?" He gasps. "Karai?"

Mikey shrugs. He reaches out and gently touches Leo's cheek. "Leo loves her." He whispers.

Donnie quakes with fury. "Fine. Whatever." He grumbles. He doesn't have time for this. "Come on Mikey." He carefully takes ahold of Leo. "Help me carry him. We're going back to the lair."

Raph picks the opening closest to the incident. He creeps out, shuffling along in the darkness. At the edge of the building he sees her. His face lights up in triumph, then falls dramatically as he realizes what is going on.

Shredder is back. He looms over her with the intent to kill. "You worthless girl!" He kicks her in the side. "You had one job – one!"

Karai is sitting against a building as she endures his wrath. She doesn't say a word. She waits for the inevitable.

Shredder growls almost like a feral beast. "You're so pathetically weak!" He kicks her again. "You can't even stay on your feet!" He reaches down and jerks her up by the collar. "And you learned nothing." He hisses.

Karai feels his hot breath on her skin he is so close. Yes, she learned nothing. And that only means one thing. "I know." So do it!

Raph sucks in a sharp breath. The implications are staggering. But this is Shredder. He doesn't stand a chance on his own. He searches desperately for a way to solve this.

Shredder presses his blade against her throat.

Raph remembers one weapon, one he never did like due to cowardice. He digs around for it and pulls out a single smoke bomb. Perfect. He chucks it for all he is worth.

Both Shredder and Karai make sounds of annoyance as the smoke clouds their vision and irritates their senses. "What is this!?" Shredder screams. He moves away from Karai in an attempt to break out of the smog.

Raph darts. He piles headlong into the smoke and uses her coughing fit as a means to track her. He reaches out in the darkness and grabs onto whatever he finds – her upper arm.

Karai nearly screams. She knows it's not her father's touch and can't imagine anyone but her sister being the culprit.

Raph clamps a hand over her mouth. "Don't." He growls.

Karai's heart skips a beat at the sound of his voice. "Raphael?" She croaks.

Raph only grunts in response. He drags her along, the smoke thinning quickly. He shoves her over to the opening and orders her in. "Now." Once she's through he follows at her heels, leaving Shredder and the scene of tragedy behind for good.

Raph sighs heavily. He leans back against the wall and lets his eyes fall shut.

Karai can't see anything. It takes her a minute to adjust and when she does she wishes that she could be blind once more. She sees that Raph has a horrible slash across his face. Courtesy of her father no doubt. It shatters any semblance of calm she has.

Raph opens his eyes as he hears her making noises. Is she…crying? Oh God. Raph pretends not to see her cracking at the edges. "Come on." He says instead. He moves off the wall. "We have to find the others."

Karai sniffles. "Thank you."

Raph eyes her strangely.

"For saving Leo." She squeezes out. "I…I wanted to…but I…" She buries her head in her hands.

Raph rolls his eyes. "Look, if you're fishing for a guilt reprieve, I'm not the person to be doing it to." He watches her carefully for any visible shift. "Because I'm not going to tell you it's not your fault."

"No," She says weakly. "Not that…"

This confuses Raph further. "Come on," He grabs her shoulder to try and direct her.

Karai's hand jerks upward and clutches his in a vice grip. "Why!?" She practically screams. "Why did you come back and save me!? Nobody likes me! Especially not you!"

Raph is a bit caught off guard by her sudden harshness. "I don't have to like you." He tries to pry her hand off of his. "I just have to not want you dead." Or you don't really hate her. He bites his lip then as the thought creeps up on him. "And I don't hate you."

Karai stares with wide tear filled eyes. She doesn't know what to say to that.

Raph stares back at her. "What?"

Karai hesitates. But she can't take it anymore. She throws herself at him, locking her arms around his neck. "I'm sorry." She blubbers. "So sorry. It is all my fault. I don't want you to tell me it's not. I just…I just want you to know I never meant for any of this to happen."

Raph's first reaction is to recoil, but she has him held firmly in place. As he feels something wet hit his shoulder, however, a chord of genuine sympathy is struck within him. "If I thought you meant it I never would have gone back for you." He tentatively reaches up and pats her on the back.

He lets her draw it out for a minute or two more before he asks, "Are you ok now?" It's code for 'can we please go now? Please.'

Karai slowly unlocks her hands and moves away from him. She wipes at her puffy red eyes. "Yes." She doesn't know if she wants to see Leo the way he is right now or not though. The fear shines in her eyes.

Raph takes note of it. "Leo will be fine." He reassures. He even gives her a half smile. "You didn't fall for a weakling." He tries to joke.

Karai manages a tiny smile. "I know."

Raph reaches out and takes her wrist in case she freezes and he has to drag her the rest of the way. But it is also because she looks wobbly. If she falls he can catch her better this way. Of course he'd never admit that, because not everything's for Leo.

Well, what do you think? Don't hesitate to tell me what you liked or didn't like. Writing this it made me think about the way KaraixRaph would work. The only way I see it is through Leo, Raph finds she doesn't suck. In which case a LeoxKarai break up would be the only way RaphxKarai would be possible. Of course that has no bearing on this story. It's fun to drop teases, but anything RaphxKarai would be...somewhere else. lol

Why am I even talking about RaphxKarai? I don't know. It's way too late and I'm brain dead. Anway, I hope you enjoyed! And I love constructive criticism. Please review!