A/N: Well I said I'd update again soon...

Donnie was angry. This wasn't normal for him. Sure he sometimes got a little frustrated, but never to this extent. Right now, he was absolutely furious. Raph was the one who got riled up and his brothers had enough experience with dealing with the fallout from his temper to at least try and control theirs. But just thinking that made him even angrier because Raph wasn't here and Donnie couldn't really see straight without him and Leo and Mikey. This whole thing was starting to get ridiculous. He should have got them out by now.

Donnie found himself with his fist in a wall and he wasn't sure how that had happened. He blinked. His hand was starting to hurt but Donnie just stared at it, actually physically unable to move it. The conversation with Caitlin and Darren had gone as well as he'd expected; which meant that Cat had ended up screaming at Karai and he'd stormed out before words turned into fists. He'd run to a random rooftop, and just begun pacing back and forth across it. He suspected that made him a coward. He wasn't good with confrontation, which might be a bit confusing considering he was a ninja and a self-proclaimed-vigilante, but it was different when it was his friends who were fighting. It reminded him of all those times he'd retreated with Mikey to one of their rooms while Leo and Raph argued. He couldn't contain the sob that burst out of him at the thought of never hearing them shout at each other again. Wasn't that a strange thing to miss?

"I feel like I should say something witty like 'what did the wall ever do to you?', but honestly I don't think it would help. It's terribly cliché, anyway." It was a testament to how messed up Donnie's life was now that he wasn't even surprised to hear Karai's voice. He turned to find her standing a few feet away, a concerned look on her face that didn't really match her flippant tone. She looked every bit the deadly ninja, black clothes, sword strapped to her back, posture guarded and ready for Donnie to lash out. Exactly as he'd expected. Except for one thing…

"Did Caitlin punch you?" he asked in surprise, indicating the slight darkening of the skin around her right eye. Karai shrugged.

"Darren actually. But I suspect that was because I drew my sword on his sister."

"What?!"

"Relax! I didn't do anything! Seriously, I'm not going to hurt either of them. I was just annoyed." Donnie tried to find the energy to tell her off, but to tell the truth he understood where she was coming from. Not that he wouldn't be having words with her later. Caitlin was his friend and she was only against the plan because she was worried about Donnie. But right then he was not feeling up to it so he brushed it off temporarily.

"Didn't go well then?" he asked instead. Karai looked a little surprised, but didn't push it.

"It went well enough. I think they're starting to come from."

"Darren punched you," he pointed out.

"Yeah, well, it's a long process," she smiled shyly and despite himself Donnie found himself grinning in return.

"Maybe we should return to it then."

"Not a good idea," Karai protested, "We don't want to push it. And you're hardly in the right frame of mind to be talking to them now."

"What do you mean by that?" Donnie asked and he narrowed his eyes into a glare. The other ninja held up her hands in mock surrender.

"I don't know if you've noticed but you've still got your hands clenched into fists," she told him. Donnie looked down at his hands and found that she was right.

"I'm… angry."

"I got that. What I want to know is: why?"

"I… I just…" Donnie broke off, unsure what to say. Karai was looking at him sympathetically and for some reason that made Donnie even more frustrated. He just couldn't help but think that she was patronising him somehow. Before he know what he was doing he'd closed the gap between them and was yelling at her. "Well, why wouldn't I be angry?! My family is missing and we're stuck he arguing! Can't you guys see that we don't have time for this?"

"Look…"

"No! It's not good enough. Who cares if it's a stupid plan? It's the only plan we've got! If any of you were in my situation you wouldn't give a damn about any of this. You'd do whatever it took to get your family back. And yet none of you are actually willing to help me and while we sit here talking, my brothers and Master Splinter and April are the ones to suffer. You're all being so… selfish!" Donnie was breathing heavily when he'd finished and Karai stared at him with an unimpressed expression. She nodded.

"Right. Perfectly good reasons. So why are you really angry?" Donnie deflated. He couldn't get out of it now, not after he'd shouted at Karai. He owed her something, and maybe it would be good to tell someone about the crippling feeling of guilt and shame that made him want to scream to the air. He felt hot tears rise to his eyes but held them back. He picked a distance point in the darkening sky behind the girl and sighed.

"I feel so useless. I should have been able to save them by now. They're probably going to die and it's all my fault!" Donnie glanced at Karai but her face was blank and unreadable. He turned to face the wall he'd punched and ran his fingers along the cool brick. His hand was aching but he ignored it. He deserved it. "I call myself a ninja, a hero, but I can't even save my brother's. I've always been so weak compared to them, but it's never really been a problem before now. I'm angry because I know that they probably hate me, and they have every right to." There was silence for several seconds after he'd finished. He wondered if Karai had walked off some time during his rant. Just as he was about to turn and see a thin hand landed lightly on his shoulder.

"They don't hate you," she whispered softly.

"How do you know?"

"Because they have no reason to. We're going to get them out in one piece, you have to believe that. I know it seems impossible right now, but it will work out. Plus, they're your family. They could never hate you." Donnie looked into Karai's eyes and was surprised to find only understanding and sympathy in her eyes and none of the impatience he'd expected.

"Like you could never hate the Shredder? No matter what he does?" She flinched and looked down. Donnie felt instantly guilty about bringing it up and hurting her when she'd been offering comfort. He didn't take it back though. For some reason he needs to know. Needs to hear her say it.

"Yeah," she muttered, "Just like that." Neither of them say anything after that for several minutes, each alone with their own thoughts. Donnie can't help but think about Raphael and all the times he would go to blow off steam. Right now, he knew that they both needed something to take their minds off what was going on, even if it was just for an hour or two.

"Want to get some late night training in?" he asked. Karai jerked her head up to meet his eyes and after a moment she smiled.

"Sure you can keep up, Geek?" she teased. Donnie returned her smile.

"Oh, bring it on, Freak."

It turned into 3 hours in the end and Donnie was exhausted by the end of it. He collapsed on the rooftop and stretched out his injured hand gingerly.

"How does it feel?" Karai asked, settling next to him.

"Painful." She frowned.

"You probably shouldn't have pushed it so soon."

"It's fine. Or, it will be in a couple of days anyway. It really stings though."

"That's what you get for punching a wall. Idiot." Karai told him. Donnie laughed suddenly and the kunoichi stared at him in confusion.

"What's funny?"

"I don't know. This." He gestured between the two of them vaguely. "Mikey would get it."

"Well. I'll just have to ask him about it when we get them out, won't I?" She stood up, obviously considering the conversation finished. Donnie followed her with his eyes but made no move to get up. Karai scowled. "We should be getting back. Judging from the scratches on your face, the kitten wasn't pleased last time you stayed out all night."

"They know where I am this time. And she'd be even less pleased to hear you call her that." Karai shrugged.

"We should head back anyway," she insisted. Donnie sighed but nodded, standing to join her. She made to leave, but he reached out and grabbed her arm before she'd got too far. "What now?"

"I just wanted to say thanks. For helping me and for understanding. You're a good friend." Karai stared at him in shock until he started to feel a little self-conscious. Slowly though her face broke into a grin.

"Anytime! Geek." He rolled his eyes.

"You should go and dispel the Shredder's fears that you're betraying him. I'll see you tomorrow. Freak." Karai smiled wider and they broke apart, going their separate ways.