A/N: Thank you all for reading, following, favoriting, and reviewing! As always, enjoy!

…

CHAPTER 13- Built Guilt

…

Back at the Lair, Splinter is ready in the garage for his children's arrival. Donatello had called ahead and made him aware that Mona was hurt and Irma was unconscious. Donnie did not mention, however, what had happened to Karai. They had no proof as to whether or not she survived the fall, and he didn't want to worry his father over the phone about his prodigal daughter.

Donnie shuts down the copter and the blades' tremendous whirring dies down. Mikey slides open the cabin door. Raphael jumps out, holding Mona in his arms; he carefully places her on the gurney Splinter is handling. Casey is behind him, holding Irma.

"Follow me to the lab!" Donnie orders and leads the group out of the garage.

Mikey stays behind, staring at the canisters of mutagen in his hands. He wonders where Leonardo is, if he was able to find Karai, and if she's still alive.

…

Splinter's heart jumps upon seeing the gaping injury across Mona's backside. He covers the lizard girl with a sheet. "How did this happen?" He asks as calmly as he can. Donatello, April, and Splinter roll Mona to the Lab at a hurried pace.

Raphael keeps up beside them. "We found the girls being held at a secret Foot location... The girls got free, we found a load of mutagen, made it to the copter, but Karai grabbed onto Mona and… I should have..." He bites his lip in frustration. Chiding himself for not being faster or stronger in the past isn't going to do anything for her now. There is nothing he can do for her now.

Entering the lab, Casey places Irma on the cot and runs to the kitchen to get some ice for the nasty bump on her head. Splinter and April carefully lift Mona onto the metal surgical table. Donatello washes his hands and arms as quickly and thoroughly as possible. Under the bright lights, he cleans the wound, stops the bleeding and covers Mona's surrounding, swelling skin with multiple cooling pads.

Raphael feels Casey rush passed him and kneels beside the cot, applying the ice bag to Irma's head. Raphael is kneading his hands, not knowing what do to. He whips his head over to the operating table at the sound of Mona waking up.

She weeps. "It hurts, April. It hurts so bad."

Raphael dashes to where Mona's fists beat against the metal at the head of the table. He takes her hands in his, firmly and gently. "Mona? Look at me."

Mona, still weeping, looks up at Raphael through blurry eyes. "It hurts, Raphie."

He leans over and whispers, being ever so close to her face. "I know it does, just hang in there. I'm… I'm here for ya." Raphael looks up at Donatello. "Can't ya stop the pain?"

Donatello and April come around. She takes Mona's left hand away from Raphael. April wipes Mona's arm with iodine, and Donatello inserts a slow-dripping medicine pouch into Mona's bloodstream. "This should start working in a few minutes." Donnie says. "The dosage is measured for us mutant turtles. I don't know if Mona will stay awake for much longer."

Donnie checks Irma's scalp for any fracture or lacerations, finding none. With all of their deeds done, April and Casey move Irma to the living area and lay her on the couch. If she doesn't awaken within the next few hours, they'll have to risk taking her to the hospital. Splinter and Donatello stand at the door of the lab quietly. In all the commotion, the sensei has just noticed that one of his students is missing. "Where is Leonardo?"

Donatello stops breathing for a moment. He looks away. "He went after Karai."

Splinter sighs. "He did not escape with you?"

"He did but…"

Splinter peers at his purple-banded son. He also looks away. "I am sure he had good reason to let you go on without him… if he does not return by morning, please let me know."

"Hai, sensei."

Splinter looks over at Raphael, who is sitting on a stool next to Mona. He places a hand on Donatello's shoulder. "You have done fine work this evening, my son. I think it best that we all get some rest." He leaves.

Donatello walks over to Raphael and Mona. "Hey, Raph?"

Raphael looks up at his younger brother with a mournful expression.

"I could stay and monitor things here. If anything changes I'll let you guys know."

Raphael looks down at the now sleeping Mona. Her hair is haloed about her tear-stained face. "It's OK, Donnie. You go get some sleep. I ain't tired."

Donnie nods and steps back to the door. "Sure, thought I'd ask."

…

"What do we do?" Casey asks April as he strips off his warrior gear.

"We'll have to take shifts. If she doesn't wake up by morning, we'll have to call her mom and take her to the hospital." April says. She kneels on the floor by the couch where Irma lay. She runs a hand over her unconscious friend's arm. The guilt rushes in like a flood. April stands quickly. "I'm going to make some tea. Do you want anything, Casey?"

"Naw, I'm good." Casey lounges back in the recliner. "Could you take the first shift? I'm beat."

"No, problem… Casey?"

"Yeah?"

April walks over to him and gives him a big hug. "Thanks for coming back for us."

His eyes widen at her sudden affection. He returns her hug warmly. "Casey Jones never runs from a fight. He just comes back better prepared." He gives her a gappy smile and then leans back to sleep.

April turns and heads to the kitchen.

…

Leonardo tosses himself from roof to roof, finally landing at the place where the fight between his brothers and their sworn enemies had fought. The fire department has already put out the fire on the first floor. He carefully peers over the edge, hoping and not hoping, searching for any sign of where Karai fell. He should have known; it's pitch black down there, possibly a forgotten alley no one cared to illuminate.

He finds an old iron fire escape and descends. It's dark and cold and quiet, yet he listens intently for any signs of life.

Twenty stories down, he ends at the bottom into a deserted alley. He sneaks around the building, listening in on the paramedics, saying that the building was empty and no one was found in or around the premises. He goes to the back of the building and points his flashlight all around. He gasps when he finds a blade sticking out of the brickwork about ten feet above him. He looks at the ground below and sees shattered crates… but no body. He looks closer and sees blood on one of the broken pieces of wood. Perhaps the Foot came and claimed her before he could get here.

This is not good enough proof. He knows what he has to do. He will not return home until he knows for sure. He is the one that will have to kneel in front of his father and answer for every decision he made as leader. He is the one that will have to take on the guilt, not his brothers. So, he will not return, even if he has to follow her blood-stained trail back to Shredder's headquarters. He owes her that much, at the risk of being ambushed or captured... he needs to see her and allow her to see him, so that she'll finally know how much she torments him.

…

April takes the kettle from the stove and puts in the sink. She lets the faucet run. She stares at the water and feels the tears coming.

"Hey, April." Donatello comes in from the other side of kitchen.

He startles her. She turns off the faucet and takes the full kettle to the stove. "Hey. Just making some tea."

Donnie stays at the doorway. "Aren't you tired?"

"I have to stay up and watch over Irma." She places her hand on the front burner's knob. She doesn't turn on the flame.

Now, Donnie knows that something is wrong. He goes to stand by her. "April…"

She sighs and looks up at him. The tears are already falling.

Donatello's jaw drops. He had hoped to never see April so upset enough to cry. She's usually so resilient; ever ready to roll with the punches life pummels upon her. The events of the evening finally have her dam spilling over.

"I just…" She starts. "This is my fault. I shouldn't have let her come. I knew it could be dangerous, but I let her come anyway. I couldn't protect them. Now, Irma is unconscious and Mona is badly hurt and…" She shakes her head. She blinks and a string of tears stream down from her eyes.

Donnie rarely does anything without thinking things through. Yet, he doesn't hesitate to cup April's face with his hands and wipe her tears away with his thumbs. He looks deeply into her reddening eyes, wanting to show her all the care and concern he has for her. He does so for longer than he'd like without speaking. Great genius, now what are you going to do? Say something! "April, you are the strongest girl I know. I bet Irma and Mona wouldn't have escaped when they did if it wasn't for you. I saw how brave you were for them. No one blames you, not them and not me. And even though some of us got hurt… we're all still breathing. So, please don't cry."

"But what about K-Karai?" April whispers.

Donnie smiles warmly. "Leo will look after Karai… and I'll always be here for… you."

April can hardly breathe at the kindness he's showing her. His words may not change what has happened, but her mind is less troubled. She places her hands over his, almost allowing herself to enjoy his warmth, and realizes that it's not just the fact that her friends are injured that makes her upset. As long as these robots and aliens and mutants are here to cause havoc for the ones she cares about, the longer she has to wait to get what she wants. It's frustrating, gut-wrenching, and unfair to her young, crazy life, when all she wants to do is let go and…

Her lips quiver and she hides her flushed face against his armored chest. She sobs as silently as her heart allows.

Donatello, oblivious to her heartache, tilts his head and rests his chin on the crown of her red hair. He wraps his arms around her. He rubs her back as her form shudders. She holds fast to his arms, trying to keep her balance as the weight of her troubles try to pull her down. But, she knows she won't go down. Her turtle is keeping her afloat, her quiet pillar.

Please, just wait a little longer, Donnie.

…

Leonardo speeds through the shadows, following the ever-lightening spatters of blood through the hidden streets of New York, until he reaches a dead end. He sees the chainlink fence, the large dumpster. He puts out his flashlight and allows his eyes to adjust to the dim light of the moon. He listens astutely as he walks in. A slight hiss, as if from pain, catches his attention. It comes from the far side of the dumpster. He takes another step closer and suddenly the sharp twang of a ninja star ricochets off one of the buildings, heading straight for him and he instinctly deflects it with his katana.

"Do not come any closer." The small but fierce voice warns.

"Karai, it's me." Leo says.

"I know who it is. Go away."

Leonardo ignores her weak threat and goes to her. He finds her slouched against the decaying metal of the dumpster with a bleeding hand and a dislocated shoulder, but alive. He kneels beside her and offers to wrap her hand with some blue cloth stored in his belt. He looks at her shoulder and she nods. He quickly pushes her arm back in its socket and Karai stifles a yelp against his plastron. She relaxes into him as the pain subsides. She abruptly pushes away and looks up at him. "What are you even doing here?"

"Are you serious?" He gently takes her hand and she reluctantly offers it. "You just survived a 70 foot drop towards solid concrete and walked three blocks away from your point of impact."

"You wanted to make sure the deed had been done?" She shuts her eyes as he ties the bandage tightly.

"No… I wanted you to prove me right."

"Right about what?"

He looks into her eyes. "That you are as good a ninja as I knew you were."

She stares back at him, finding his compliment unwarranted, though it does soothe her pride.

With her cut dressed he lets her hand go and sits back on his heels. He looks to his left. "Is that…?"

"The mutant's tail? Yes, I thought I'd make a nice pair of heels out of it. After all, I used it to break my fall."

Leo gives her a sour look. "That's more morbid than I thought you could ever be."

"I wish I could make a purse out of her too, after what she did to my secret hideout. Speaking of which, I have to get back there at once." Karai tries to stand to her feet and it's a painful chore.

Leo helps her up.

"You can't go back there. It's nothing but smoldering rubble inside and the police may still be milling about."

"I need to go! I left something very valuable there and need to recover it… No one said you had to accompany me." Karai takes one step out of the dead end and almost tumbles, trying to keep her balance and hold the tail.

"No, I'll go with you. But… let's dispose of this first." He wraps an arm around her waist and takes the amputated tail from her good hand. She looks at him and he shrugs. "Karai, I can't let you turn a part of my friend into shoes."

Karai huffs at him as he throws the tail into the dumpster. She then takes a match and throws it inside, setting the contents ablaze, partly to hide any evidence of mutants and partly for spite. "She burned my stuff, so I shall burn hers… let's go."

Leo rolls his eyes, but gives her the satisfaction of having the last word. He hoists her onto his shell and swiftly climbs up the side of the building.

…

Making doubly sure that the area has been vacated, Leonardo breaks through the glass of the second story widow of Warehouse C. Karai holds onto his shell tightly as he descends a metal ladder, landing on the dirty, first floor.

Karai slips away from him and hobbles towards the far corner. The whole building has been tied up with caution tape. Remnants of fire hose water can be seen and heard dripping off of everything. Leonardo does not find this recently condemned building to be safe.

He follows her quietly to a large heap of charred wood. Karai slowly reaches for a plank and throws it aside. She continues forward, stepping over the mess haphazardly.

"Karai…"

"Do not tell me to be careful if you're not going to help." She kicks another pile of burned remains out of her way.

He sighs inwardly and joins her. He removes a large piece, perhaps part of the ceiling from the area. She jumps into the gap he makes and kneels down in front of the wall.

"What are you looking for exactly?" Leo asks.

Karai digs with her un-bandaged hand, scooping away the muck and mud. There, face down on the hard floor, she finds it. She peels the delicate film paper from the floor. Leonardo sees her shoulders fall and she faces the sky.

Karai smiles, happy that it survived, only a singed corner where a previous portion of it was missing anyway. She didn't notice Leo bending down next to her.

"I take it you found what you were looking for."

She turns away from and fits the photo into her chest armor. "Yes."

"Was it a photo?" He asks her.

"You're a nosy turtle."

He helps her up and off of the debris. He looks at her with crooked lips.

She mimics his face. She doesn't want to explain anything to him, but given that he did aid her, she feels that she owes him a small debt. "Yes, it is a… picture of my mother."

Leo nods. "Tang Shen."

Karai looks down and grins, dusting away the soot from her knees. "Don't start that up again about your rodent sensei being my real father." She looks back at him, running her fingers through her hair, daring to be playful. "Would you really want that to be true?"

Leo has learned to train his eyes to stay level when she does or says something to draw his attention, meanwhile he's biting the inside of his lip. "Well, it is true."

"Hmm." She steps closer to him. "You're OK with calling me your sister?"

Leo blinks and swallows. "T-technically, half-sister, but…" Even after falling five stories, battered, bloody, charred covered, and beaten, her dark, shining, lovely eyes still dazzle him. "… But I've never looked at you in that way."

She finds his choice of words curious. "Really?" Karai takes another step closer. "And how do you…" The way he's looking at her now tells her more than she is ready for. "I see…"

The two, young ninjas wander in the moment only briefly until they sense that they are immediately surrounded.

"Mistress Karai, we've come to escort you home." One of the Foot Bots says, emerging from the shadows followed by a whole host of others.

Karai pulls out a small knife and Leo a sword. She limps back. "We'll have to continue this conversation later… much later." She allows one of the Bots to hoist her up. She looks at Leonardo once more. She bows her head in thanks before a smoke bomb erupts and just as suddenly, he is alone.

Leo closes his eyes and exhales a long-awaited breath. His nerves overcome him and he falls to his knees.

Thank goodness she's alive…

…

Just after one am, Leonardo enters his underground dwelling. He sees a few of his teammates in the living area. Casey is out like a light in the recliner, breathing softly with his baseball cap over his face. Irma, the girl he has yet to meet, is laid out comfortably on the couch. Her legs are draped over April's lap. April is seated on the couch, her head tilted back in slumber. Resting their head on April's left knee is Donatello, who is leaned up against the couch, legs out over the floor, hands folded over his plastron, whistling softly through the gap in his teeth.

Seeing this quiet and calm scene soothes Leo's nerves all the more. He goes and kneels beside Donnie. He nudges his brother on the arm.

Donnie stirs. He looks at Leo and smiles. "You're home…"

"Shh." Leo whispers. "Yeah, I'm home."

"How is, I mean, did you find…"

Leo smiles and nods.

"Of course you found Karai." Donnie yawns. "You wouldn't be here yet if you hadn't have. Is she OK?"

Leo feels his cheeks warm. Donnie has little to no filters when he's just waking up. "She'll be just fine…" Leo looks over at Irma and April. "Is Mona alright?"

Donnie jerks himself awake and slowly stands. He waves for Leo to follow him to the lab.

…

Shredder stands at the door of Karai's bedroom suite, waiting for the physician to finish dressing his daughter's wounds. Once complete the doctor packs up his things and turns to leave. He bows to Shredder as he exits.

The Lord of the Foot Clan strides into the room towards the four-post bed. Karai does not look at him as he places a hand on her nightstand.

She knows what is coming, another lecture of how foolish and wasteful she is; how she continually fails at her own headstrong plans and strays from his orders. Ever since Shredder came back from Japan and made Tiger Claw his second in command, Karai feels that he has been nothing but brutish to her. But, this is why she took her own squad and devised her own strategies. She wants to show her father that she is useful, crafty, worthy of the title she was stripped from. She hopes that getting the information the Kraang needed to gain a step further in their invasion plan would grant her favor with her father. Yet, loosing the warehouse property in the process may be unforgivable.

To her surprise, Shredder removes the talons from his arms and the helmet from his head. He sets them aside, and sits on the side of her bed. His deformed face doesn't repel her. It is the face she has known as father. Besides, the mutants under his rule are far more repulsive.

Shredder takes a breath. "I am speaking to you not as your master, but as your father… The wretched Kraang and seemingly useless robots they've supplied us with say that you had disappeared once the roof caved in during the warehouse fire…"

Karai blinks. "Forgive me but, you almost sound as if you were… concerned for me."

"Look at me. I am all too familiar with the destruction of fire."

Karai thinks back to the first time she had heard the story of how he saved her from the man that took her mother away. She admires the marks and the man that bares them.

Shredder too, thinks back on all those years ago, when his rage against Yoshi Hamato had caused him to seek revenge, to burn his home down in the eve of the day, un-knowingly taking his wife, the lovely Tang-Shen. Shredder remembers, wailing in glees beyond the flames, watching as neighbors were holding Yoshi back; them begging him not go into the inferno. Shredder remembers hearing the faint cry of a child, and his glee turned to fright. That fright drove him into the rear of the house, allowing the flames to claim the skin of his arms and face, the fright that ripped the bundle from the dead mother's arms and jumped out the window into the river, floating downstream, with his enemy's child, away from the terror he created.

He shudders at the thought of this nightmare repeating. Just as when she was a baby, fire dared to take his daughter's life, only this time, he was not there to rescue her. "How did you escape?"

"I jumped off the roof and used my dagger along the building to slow my descent."

"And you were able to get away before the cops came. And you returned to the warehouse after all of this."

"Yes, I had to retrieve something I thought I had lost."

"And all with an injured hand, bruised shoulder and swollen foot… you covered a lot of ground."

"Y-yes." She says.

He nods. "You are a true survivor. I have taught you well."

"You have, father."

"The Kraang are also pleased with your efforts. They are already using the brain scan you sent them to execute their next step in taking over the city." Shredder notices Karai's judgmental expression. "You think it foolish that I cooperate with the aliens… Remember, it is always beneficial to keep your enemies close so they do not surprise you with their schemes. My vendetta is with Hamato and his meddlesome turtles. At this point, it does not matter to me if the Kraang disposes of them or they fall by my hands. Once they are gone, I will rid myself of the Kraang. I will use their technology against them and claim the city for myself as intended."

Karai wants revenge for her mother's death. And Hamato, Yoshi is the one who should pay. But if The Foot takes down Hamato, the Turtles will want revenge for their sensei's death, so Leonardo and the others must be taken care of as well. Blood debts are vicious cycles. There is always someone else connected, always someone else crying out for justice for their side of the fence. She understands that it is the way of the world, but something just does not feel right in her soul. Shredder sits beside her, explaining these things, vanquish you enemies and any who would stand in your way, as if he's commenting on the weather. The concept had never been unsettling until now. She wonders why.

Karai knows better than to question him, so she responds in kind. "That is a wise plan of action." She says.

He looks at her. "Yes, wise indeed. If you agree that I am wise, then you understand that all of my moves and motives are premeditated so that I acquire my most desired outcome, Karai."

She purses her lips. Here it comes.

"It would not be beneficial for my sole heir to recklessly lead side quests when the future I have planned for you is worth so much more."

"What do you mean?" Karai whispers.

"You may think that you are too young for us to have this conversation now, but maybe if you know, you will be less likely to jump off the roof of a burning building the next time you're out on patrol."

Karai sits up in her bed, careful not to wince at the pain in front of her master.

Shredder continues. "I plan on living a very long time, Karai. I plan on seeing Hamato, Yoshi's final stand. I plan on crushing those pathetic aliens brains under my steel boots, and I plan on turning this city into my black kingdom. But… if something were to happen to me, know that everything I have, The Foot Clan, all of my properties, here and in Japan, and Oroku Corp… it would all be yours."

Karai's eyes grow wide. "But, I thought that Tiger Claw…"

"Tiger Claw is bigger, faster, stronger, more experienced, and has more heightened qualities than you will ever have due to his mutation."

Karai sinks back into her pillows. She knew the truth, but hearing it makes her feel worse.

Shedder shakes his head. "He has everything I need. But just like the other mutants, he is nothing more than another tool in my box… and you will never see me morn over a broken wrench."

In a very infinitesimal way, Shredder is saying that he cares a lot about Karai, so much that he sees her as irreplaceable. She is not just an instrument at his disposal; she is the gem of his empire.

Two confessions in one night; Karai feels the unfamiliar emotion of embarrassment bubbling in her chest. "I see." She says, looking at something on her nightstand.

He follows her glance at the bowl of water that was used to clean her hand. In it floats a familiar-looking strip of blue cloth. Shredder thinks for a moment. The left side of his face wrinkles up, showing his daughter the only smile he has. "Your mother was beautiful, like the rarest flower in the king's garden. Everyone could see how lovely she was, and any many would be deathly envious of the man who won her heart. A woman's heart can be foolish and make abrupt decisions. A woman's heart can be childish and hide secrets that should not be hidden. Tell me, Karai… do you have secrets that I should know?"

Karai feels the warmth of the moment turn to ice at her father's gaze. What is he trying to find out, and why would he care HOW I survived? And why would it matter HOW I got back to the warehouse after the fire? All of this talk of being his sole heir and placing my safety above his minions… it may all be a ruse to keep me loyal.

Loyalty, Karai understand fully. Being disloyal can cost one's life. Trust is a concept she is new to. Way in the back of her mind, she knew that she could trust Leonardo to come looking for her. He duels with her based on pure skill, never underhanded tricks. When they meet secretly to talk, he never seems to fabricate stories or puff himself up. He never seems to want anything from her, except mutual company. Leonardo is her enemy, and yet she can trust him. She looks once more in the bowl of water on her nightstand and furrows her brow at her father. "Maybe I do have secrets. Perhaps I am like my mother in that way. If so, I'd like to hold onto that trait, if you do not mind."

Shredder stands up. He places his helmet back on and fits the sharp, metal claws on his forearms. He looks his ninja in the eye. "You will not lead your squad, nor scout on your own until you are completely healed. Then, once the Kraang have completed their surrogate, you will extract the original."

"Hei, Shredder." Karai says quickly. Father daughter time is over in a flash.

Shredder nods and goes to the bedroom door. Before leaving, he turns and says. "We all have secrets, Karai. Some are harmless… and some can bring down an entire empire… goodnight." The door clicks behind him.

Karai closes her eyes and sighs. The conversation was not what she expected, but it was better than being chewed out. She wonders, when and if the day comes, if she'll follow her father's orders blindly and help him end his enemies. What would the world be like without the mutants? She frowns and carefully rolls on her side to sleep. Before turning off her lamp, she reaches into the bowl and removes the blue string of cloth. She wrings it out and places it in a small compartment in the jewelry box where the picture of her mother rests.

She turns off her lamp and closes her eyes. She doesn't have to make any decisions tonight.

…

Leonardo and Donatello walk into the lab. The only light is coming from the screensavers on his many computer monitors. Leonardo sees Mona on the table. He walks over to her and his heart drops, glancing at the flatly laying sheet at her bottom. He can't believe she lost her tail. He looks into her face; she is sleeping soundly. Leonardo smiles, however, when he looks at his brother Raphael, who is seated on a stool and leaning on the table. His head is nestled in is folded arms and his brow is right up against hers.

"He hasn't moved from this spot." Donnie says. "I guess April was right."

"Right about what…?" Leo asks him.

They look at each other, grin, and look back at Raphael.

Leonardo stretches. "Well, I am drained. Goodnight, Donnie. Call me if you need anything."

"Sure." Donnie says.

Donatello, leaves the lab, goes to the living area, drapes the girls and Casey with blankets and goes off to bed, hoping to get enough rest in the few hours he has left, having the feeling that tomorrow is going to be very interesting.

...

Irma opens her eyes. She stares up through her smudgy glasses, trying to make sense of the high ceiling, lined with pipes. Her breath catches when she feels someone, or something, move underneath her legs. Then the thing touches her. Is it the evil robot from her dream? Irma sits up and screams at the top of her lungs. Her high-pitched wail echoes through the entire Lair. No one is asleep anymore.

"Irma! Irma, calm down!" April says, grabbing her friend's shoulders.

Casey falls out of the recliner and crawls over to the girls. "Irma! T-heck!"

Irma looks at April and over at Casey. She takes a few breaths. "What? Where?"

"It's OK Irma…" April says and coaxes her to lie back down on the couch. "How do you feel?"

Irma sighs. "I feel… like I've been asleep for a week."

"Are you in any pain?" April asks her.

"Not really, but I have a slight headache… I had a nightmare."

"Hmm, I bet you did, after what happened last night." Casey says.

Irma turns to face him. "What happened last night?"

From the corner of April's eye, she sees The Turtles rush out from the hallway, along with Master Splinter. She holds up a hand to them, warning them to not come any closer.

"Oh, you remember, at the warehouse, and all the…" Casey starts, but April interrupts.

"What do you remember about yesterday, Irma?" April asks her.

Irma closes her eyes and tries to concentrate. "I remember… pastry from the bakery next to my house. I remember you two… walking down the street… something happened… there were huge, dark beings… a loud explosion… I almost fell, but Casey…" She looks at him. "You saved me."

Casey's face grows bright red.

April frowns. "You don't remember anything or anyone else?"

Irma shakes her head. "No, I don't. You guys are starting to scare me. What happened and where are we?"

April looks to the hallway, and her mutant family has vanished. She looks back at Irma. April has a choice to make. She could tell Irma the truth and exposes her to the harsh reality of clans and mutants and inter-dimensional warfare, or she could lie again to keep her friend safe. "Irma… this place is… just a vacant underground place we found when we escaped from the muggers."

"Muggers?" Irma asks.

April shoots an eye at Casey.

"Muggers, yeah." Casey says. "We DID go to the bakery and then we went for a walk and a group of jerks wearing metal tried to rob us. You hit your head when we were trying to get away from them."

"I… kind of remember being chased." Irma puts a hand to her throbbing head.

"Well, now that you're awake and safe, I think it's time we find our way home." April looks at Irma and pauses, wondering if this is right. But, of course it is. She could never let anything like this happen to Irma again.

"April, are you OK?" Irma asks her.

"Yes, Irma… let's just pull on your hoodie. It could be raining once we get outside." April covers Irma's head and eyes. Casey suits up and secures Irma to his back.

"You good, Irm?" Casey asks her.

Irm? "Y-yes, I'm fine." Irma pulls her hoodie over her blushing face.

"Well, let's go." April looks back into the Lair. She waves, hoping her family sees her. The three young humans depart. April knows that she is doing the best thing for Irma. The less she remembers, the better. If she doesn't know anything, then she is not a threat to the Foot or the Kraang… right?"

…

A/N: I really hope you all like this. That Shredder cameo… he is a sneaky man! I felt it was needed. We don't see much interaction with him and Karai and I want to tie my story into the series. Also… Leo is not my favorite, but you can't deny his chivalry! I love having him and Karai interact. More to come! We have to have Mona wake up and start her recovery after all! Tell me what you think! And have a great weekend!