When Quayla enters the living room after putting Jade to bed, she is exhausted, April and Casey have gone to check on the Antique store and she can finally have time alone to think.

For the second time in his life Leo is hurtling towards April's apartment window. Karai has decided to send a message to the occupants and Leo's half-conscious form is the perfect vessel.

As Leo smashes through the window Jade wakes with the noise, Quayla rushes to him and assesses the damage. Leo opens his eyes to see Jade appear in the bedroom doorway, her sleepy eyes widening as she begins to scream.

''Daddd…''

Just as Quayla shouts,

''NO JADE, DON'T!''

But it is too late. Karai observing the scene from outside with satisfaction, narrows her gaze onto Jade. Leo scrambles to his feet and pulls Quayla to him, he looks her straight in the eye and whispers.

''Run, take Jade, I'll hold them off. Get as far away as you can. I'll come find you. I promise.''

Quayla nods solemnly, grabs Jade and makes for the door, before she leaves she turns back to look at Leo, he is in bad shape and bleeding heavily from a gash on his leg.

''Come back to us.'' she says, her voice breaking.

Leo smiles reassuredly.

''I will.''

Quayla runs but to the sewers, she quickly tells Master Splinter and the others that Leo is in desperate need of help and they rush to his aid. They return having temporarily dealt with the foot and Karai. Leo is wounded and limping but angry when he sees Quayla and Jade still in the city. He begins to demand,

''You were supposed to…!''

But as he does Quayla strides over and kisses him. He looks surprised while Jade giggles at her parents.

''No more apart, we deal with this together and we live our lives without fear. I've had enough.'' Quayla orders.

Leo and Quayla put Jade to bed, she is thrilled to be spending the night in the sewers. Quayla notices that Leo's leg is still bleeding and after protests from him she escorts him to the kitchen to administer first aid. As Quayla finishes patching Leo up she stands and their eyes meet.

''I am sorry…''

Leo starts to apologise again but she shakes her head and draws him to her in an embrace. Raph walks in with Jade slung over his shoulder.

''Guys, Jade says she can't sleep.'' Then seeing Quayla and Leo in each other's arms he reverses laughing. ''It's a bit too PG13 for you in there kiddo!''

Leo and Quayla both start loudly protesting their innocence but end up laughing.

''I'm not sure I've laughed in a while.'' Leo admits, frowning.

Mikey overhears his admission and jokes from the living area.

''You haven't! Is your face ok or did it crack?!''

Leo laughs again, a little self-conscious this time.

In the morning the group gather to discuss their plans, both Quayla and Jade are now in serious danger from The Shredder, Karai. Leo lays out a detailed attack on Karai's stronghold, it echoes the plan they used several years ago to free Quayla when her blood was being extracted for the ancient glyphs it contained. This time however Leo explains they will find all of the information gathered that day and destroy it, without the added power from the book of the shredder Karai will finally be able to be defeated. Donnie claps Leo on the shell smiling.

''Guys, I think we have our bro back.''

Raph laughs and looks pointedly at Quayla.

''Yeah and I'm sure that has nothin' to do with him getting…'' He sees Quayla's eyes dart towards Jade playing nearby. ''Never mind.'' he says winking.

Leo makes an exasperated noise and smacks him upside the head.

''Eyy! Those are Mikeys!'' Raph grumbles, Mikey laughs maniacally.

The time for the siege on Karai's fortress arrives. Quayla and Jade are to stay underground with Master Splinter while the turtles carry out their plan. April and Casey will help with surveillance from outside and hack into the security systems to open doors and switch off alarms. As the TMNT make their final preparations to leave, Jade decides she wants to go with Leo, her small face serious as she explains she can help.

''But I'm really good Daddy, I can stop the bad people!''

Leo grins and crouches to look her in the eye.

''I know Jade, that's why you have to stay here and protect mom and grandpa.''

He reasons as he kisses her frowning forehead and after processing her responsibility, Jade decides she'll stay. Quayla hugs Leo tightly.

''Just be safe, all of you.'' She cautions, prompting various assurances, eyerolls and 'duh' noises from the group.

As the plans get underway Quayla and Master Splinter wait nervously in the lair for word from the turtles, Jade is starting to tire of her role as guard and yawns.

Suddenly two canisters roll into the living area, smoke beginning to plume from them as they come to a stop. Quayla and Splinter move fast, gathering Jade up and making for the screen door to get away from the smoke. Quayla stands Jade behind her and tells her not to move while she and Splinter hold off whatever attack is coming. They do not need to wait long, as they peek through the screen they see a large contingent of the foot clan is stood assembled for action. Quayla's heart drops to her stomach, their chances of escaping are slim, she prepares to fight.

A shuriken whistles past Quayla and another one burrows its way into her side but all she can think of is Jade. Splinter cries out,

''Nooo! You will not harm them!''

He sees more shuriken flying towards them and deflects as many as he can while Quayla shields Jade. Several more pierce her back and she can feel the blood begin to flow, a few drops hit the floor…and stay there, unmoving. Through the smoke and chaos of the attack they hear the voice of Chaplain, Karai's right hand in all matters of science and mysticism.

''Mistress Karai, Quayla's blood is clean...I don't know how!''

Quayla can make out Karai's angered shouts and sounds of fighting coming through his radio, she also overhears that the TMNT have reached their target and have destroyed the pieces of the book they've found. As a counter move Karai is now after what remains of the book. Karai then issues the command Quayla has been fearing all along.

''Bring me the child!'' the radio crackles.

Jade darts from behind Quayla in panic and tries to run but she cannot move fast enough to outsmart the foot yet, they snatch her up. Quayla and Splinter are overcome and restrained as Jade is carried away, Quayla screams,

''NO! I'm coming Jade!''

But as she does she is knocked unconscious.

Splinter wakes Quayla and she gasps as she comes to, looking to Splinter to make sure she isn't dreaming this terrible nightmare. He shakes his head sadly and urges her up.

''We must leave now, can you stand?''

Quayla struggles to her feet, the damage from the shuriken now apparent.

''I'm fine, let's go.'' Quayla replies with gritted teeth, clutching her side and removing a shuriken which she throws to the floor in disgust.

Splinter is also struggling from his encounter so the two help each other make their way towards Karai's headquarters.

When Splinter and Quayla reach the building the way is clear for them, all of the foot are obviously engaged in other matters. They find the fight ensuing at the top of the building, Quayla spots Leo and is about to warn him when Karai appears dragging an uncooperative Jade behind her. Leo's face drops. Quayla pushes her way to his side.

''They stormed the lair Leo, they were waiting for the right moment.'' she chokes.

Leo clenches his teeth hard.

''It's ok Cute, I won't let Karai hurt her.''

''So,'' Karai muses, placing her short sword against Jade's wrist ''Perhaps the girl has what I need. She is a unique child after all, isn't she Leonardo?''

He narrows his eyes and his foot slides back into a pushing off position. Karai continues her taunt.

''I see so much of her mother in her, but what of her father? My father and I bore no resemblance yet I inherited his strength and power. This,'' she shakes Jade, who is crying quietly ''Wretch is weak.''

Leonardo smiles, fixing her with a cold stare.

''No Karai, she is strong and more like her father than you can comprehend.'' He then shouts, ''Now Jade, like we practised!''

Jade in a seamless manoeuvre, slides her hand from Karai's grasp and smashes her captor's wrist relieving a stunned Karai of her sword, then using both hands to shakily draw it over her own head as she has seen Leonardo do since before she can remember. Jade closes her eyes, still shaking.

Karai's face is filled with surprise but she reacts quickly and makes for the blade.

''Insolent child you will regret….!''

She begins but she does not finish. Thanks to Jade's distraction, Leo has now had time to reach them and his katana pierces through the advancing Karai's abdomen. She chokes and drops to the floor. Leo picks Jade up, saying gently,

''Well done Jade, just keep your eyes closed a little while longer.''

The TMNT exit the building quickly, they see Karai's soldiers moving their fallen mistress, and hurriedly working over her body as they do.

''Do you think she's dead?'' Donnie whispers.

''No my son, there is more at work here than flesh and bone.'' Splinter answers.

Mikey shudders, ''Urgh. Creepy.''

Leo and Quayla are silent, they don't want their daughter exposed to this now, it will happen one day but for now they will protect her.