Leonardo brushes off Donatello's attempts to help him to the living room, walking stiffly but upright.

Karai slips from Spike's arms and coils her tail until she is stable enough to balance upright. She bows her head respectfully.

Leonardo eyes her as Splinter enters the room. "Raphael tells me that you have brought us a guest."

Raphael appears behind him, arms crossed. "Or somethin'."

Spike shot daggers with her eyes at him. "Yes, Sensei."

Irma brings her microscope into the living room. "She is stable, now. Are you cold?"

Karai doesn't respond.

"'Course she is," Spike utters. "She's cold-blooded now, it's the end of January, and we're in the sewers of New York."

"I know," April's voice echoes as she jogs in, holding a cloak. "I remember stuff." She cautiously approaches Karai before draping the cloak around her shoulders.

Casey rushes in behind her, grabbing her shoulder and pulling her back. "Stand clear, Red. She's with the Foot, remember?"

Karai whips around and eyes Casey, forked tongue flickering. "I shall not harm her. This I swear."

Spike pats her shoulder. "We know."

Splinter approaches Karai. "You have been through much, haven't you?"

Karai nods.

"You began to change before this happened, I've heard." Splinter thinks for a moment. "You may stay here, but I am making you Sarah's responsibility. Remain with her at all times if possible," he says, voice growing stern. "Follow her instructions."

Karai bows. "Hai." She raises her head, eyes still on the ground. "I thank you for your mercy."

Spike nods and claps Karai on the shoulder. "C'mon, I'll take you to my room."

~Evil Takes it's Toll~

Spike rummages through her boxes in what used to be Donatello's room. "You want the bed? I'll see if we can set up a cot for me."

"It would be foolish," Karai murmurs. "You are heavier, and the bed was clearly designed for a shell. Furthermore, I am the one on probation here, not you. I have to rebuild my honor."

Spike turns, raising an eye-ridge. "Y'know, honor's a big deal. I understand that. But I think you gotta rebuild your character before you rebuild your honor."

Karai begins coiling into a pile of blankets at the far end of the room. "Why did you show compassion?"

Spike stops. "I….I don't know, actually."

"Did you pity me?" Karai asks softly.

"A little. I know what it's like, mutation." Spike holds up her arm. "Not fun. Painful. It's being cast out of the human race."

"Fitting that to make up for my deedssss againssst the human race, I musssst protect them from the outsssside," Karai notes.

Spike shrugs and crouches. "Well, I wasn't a pleasant person either. Bit of a punk, really. I tried to play it tough, and I was practically a street kid, you know. I was a problem for April, who stuck by me despite the fact that I was a street fighter, beating the tar out of other people for money. I hated people, and by the time I got used to liking people, I died and turned into this."

Karai hisses quietly. "I once sssaid we were not sssso different. I sssee that I wassss perhapsss right."

"Yeah. Well, let's hit the hay, roomie."

Thanks for reading! Please let me know what you think in a review, it helps me out a lot. As always, I'll see you guys next chapter!