I know a lot of you were wondering what was going to happen next with Karai and whether she was still going to be given sanctuary, and also what the reactions were going to be when everyone finds out the Shredder is back!

Well we're about to find out here!

Note: Credit to Lightseeker001

Chapter Fourteen

Sanctuary

About nearly an hour had passed before Karai had finished telling her story, as she spoke, she had passed the photo albums to everyone in the lair.

Mona had a few tears falling from her eyes as she looked at some of the photos including the ones of Karai and Dr Chaplin at their wedding.

"We thought we were safe..." Karai whispered as she looked at everyone "We thought that the Foot would never bother us again...but we were wrong..."

Mona looked at Karai then at Raphael, he was also looking saddened at Karai's predicament and he placed a hand over Mona's protectively as if something would snatch her away if he let go.

Splinter was looking into his tea, deep in thought but also saddened by Karai's story.

Almost all the turtles were moved by what Karai told them.

"So please..." Karai said "If you still feel the same way about me...then by all means you can ask me to leave...or you can kill me where I stand...but all I ask is for protection for my unborn child...But if you want me to go...I promise...I swear on my honour...I will never bother you again..."

Tears began to drip from her eyes as she placed her hands on her belly again.

"The Foot want me dead..." Karai wept "They killed Chaplin before my eyes...then they said they planned to keep me prisoner until my baby is born...then take it away from me...then kill me..."

She sobbed again and cradled her head in her hands.

"They plan to make the baby...an heir...an heir to him..."

At once everyone was on the alert as they heard the last word.

"Him?" asked April.

"Izo Arashi?!" Donatello questioned.

Karai shook her head as more tears flowed from her eyes, her shoulders shook in fear.

"No..." she said "Not him...not the one that killed my husband..."

Mona felt her blood boil as she wondered whether the baby would be given to Dr Arden, Donatello also looked sickened.

Karai shook again as she tried to muster up the courage to tell her long time rivals that the man they hated and feared and the one that killed Splinter's sensei had returned.

"Who are they planning to give the baby to?" asked Leonardo "Who?!"

Karai then looked up, the terror and grief in her eyes hit him like a cold wave and Leonardo began to dread the answer she was about to give.

"Who is it!?" demanded Raphael "Tell us!"

"Him..." Karai choked out "My...my...master...and father..."

At once the blood of every turtle, master Splinter, April and Casey ran cold with fear, and Mona dropped her hot chocolate with shock.

"No..no..." Leonardo shook his head.

"No..." Splinter also choked out.

Karai looked up again and this time really blurted it out.

"He's Back..." she forced out "The Shredder!"

Time seemed to stop altogether as all the turtles, April, Casey, Mona and Splinter took in what she said.

Splinter was so shocked he couldn't speak.

"No!" said Donatello "It's...it's impossible! He can't be back!"

"He's supposed to have been banished!" Michelangelo cried "Never to return!"

Raphael clenched his fists and gritted his teeth.

"That...that Fucker is back!?" he shouted, he instantly thought of Mona and Pandora being in danger, even more than when Arashi, Dr Arden and the Venomous Five were up to their cruel tricks.

"No!" he shouted over and over "No! No! No!"

Leonardo was also distressed as he thought about all they went through with the Shredder.

"The Bastard!" he cried taking out his swords "Arashi and Dr Arden succeeded! They brought the bastard back!"

Splinter meanwhile went rigid and he almost dropped his tea.

"Oroku Saki..." he said quietly "No...how...why?"

April and Casey said nothing as they looked at each other in horror.

Karai looked up at the angered and distressed turtles, Mona, Splinter, April and Casey and gritted her teeth.

"I saw him!" she said loudly "I saw the bastard myself with my own eyes! He burst through my door, along with his new second in commands and five reptilian mutants...they killed Chaplin! Stabbed him and impaled him in the head...made me watch!"

"He what?" asked Mona.

"Made me watch..." Karai sobbed, her eyes wide "Made me watch as my husband was killed before me...he made me watch..."

"Karai..." Leonardo said softly.

"He made me WATCH!" Karai screamed the last word making everyone jump and stare at her in shock.

"Son...Son of a bitch..." Donatello whispered.

"Fiend..." Michelangelo choked.

Karai meanwhile had her head in her lap as she sobbed uncontrollably; April meanwhile quickly put her arms around the distressed woman and held her close whilst trying to get her to calm down.

Raphael was speechless as he thought about what Karai had told them.

Mona was also appalled and sickened and she looked towards Splinter who was looking at Karai in shock and he was so still he could have been mistaken for a stuffed animal.

Leonardo as he sat next to Karai he lifted his hand and gently yet slightly awkwardly stroked Karai's back to comfort her.

After a while, Splinter stood up and walked over to Karai.

Everyone watched as he walked over to Karai and knelt before her.

Karai meanwhile took a few deep breaths and looked at Splinter as knelt before her.

"I have thought hard about what you have been through Miss Karai..." he said. His voice was shaking slightly as he was still in shock at the fact that the Shredder had returned, but he tried to keep it together for his family and for the sake of a distressed and pregnant Karai.

Karai looked into the eyes of the old rat who looked back at her with kindness.

"I have known and seen how merciless the Foot have been..." Splinter said "And even though you were in Alliance with them, as was Chaplin, you made the choice to leave to follow a different path...yet your new life has been cruelly snatched away..."

Karai said nothing as she listened to the old rat.

"You are in a delicate condition, and you are frightened too, and I would never turn you away at this time..." Splinter continued "You are granted protection here..."

Tears flowed from Karai's eyes again, once again relieved that her promised sanctuary was granted.

"Oh thank you Splinter-San..." she sobbed "Thank you!"

Mona smiled tearfully as she saw how relieved Karai looked.

She only knew too well how a mother would protect her child, as a mother she was always protective of Pandora and she would go to the ends of the earth to keep her daughter safe.

Splinter looked at the turtles and Mona.

"We had better set up a room for her..." he said "So she can stay here with us..."

"I can get one of the rooms set up Master Splinter..." said Donatello standing up.

"I'll help too..." said Michelangelo.

"And me..." said April standing up from the sofa and Mona walked over and sat next to Karai.

"I can't thank you enough..." Karai whispered "I know we've had issues in the past...but..."

Splinter placed his hand on Karai's and stood up.

"I understand Karai..." he said "We know of your past and why you followed your father...but you chose later to follow your own road..."

"Everything's going to be alright Karai..." said Mona "You'll be safe down here..."

"Thank you..." Karai whispered again "Thank you so much...for everything..."

Splinter patted her hands.

"My sons will make sure a room is set up for you Karai..." he said "Now, I must meditate on our situation..."

"I'll look after her Master Splinter..." said Mona softly.

"Thank you my daughter." said Splinter as he began to walk to his quarters.

Karai looked down again and placed her hand on her belly as tears of relief fell.

"We're safe..." she whispered to her unborn baby "We're safe little one..."

So the turtles, Mona, Splinter, April and Casey have been told of Shredder's return, and they have agreed to give her protection.

How will things go from here? Tune in to find out?