A/N Thank you all so much for the reviews and alerts. I really appreciate them. Here's ch 25 for ya and see ch 1 for disclaimer. Enjoy.
Ch 25 Doubts
Karai ran across the roof tops hoping to blow off some steam. The teen ninja was having a difficult time dealing with all the conflicting emotions she was feeling. She stopped on a roof and just looked out at the city for a few minutes. Just then a dark shadow came across her and Karai whipped around and found herself face to face with the Shredder. Karai reached for her katana but Shredder grabbed her wrist.
"I do not want to fight you Karai," he said. "I was hoping to run into you again. I've been out nearly every night hoping you'd be up here."
"I've got nothing to say to you," Karai snapped, yanking her hand away. Karai turned and began to walk away from Shredder but he grabbed her arm once again, pulling her towards him. "Let go of me!" Karai shouted, trying to pull away from the Shredder's grasp
"I only wish to talk to you," Shredder said. "Daughter.."
"I am NOT your daughter!" Karai shouted, pulling away from Shredder and pulling out her katana.
"Rather you like it or not you will always be my daughter," Shredder said, his eyes burning into Karai's. "You may not be my blood daughter but the fact still remains that I raised you and taught you all that you know." Karai stared at Shredder for a minute then lowered her katana. "You know what the right thing to do is," Shredder said, standing in front of Karai. "Come back with me Karai. It is where you belong." Karai said nothing. She only stared at the armor clad man that was before her. A small part of her wanted to go back with Shredder. But then there was an even bigger part of her that wanted to go back to Splinter and the turtles. Karai knew exactly what she had to do.
"Go to Hell Shredder," she growled, raising her katana and lunging at him. Shredder easily dodged her attack, stepping off to the side. Karai stumbled and nearly fell. But the teen quickly recovered and attacked once again. Shredder raised his blades and blocked Karai's blow. Karai strained against Shredder's weight but somehow managed to push him away. Karai went in to attack once again but someone else beat her to it. A blur came in from nowhere and knocked Shredder away. Shredder lost his footing and fell over the roof's edge. Karai ran over to the side and looked over. But to her surprise there was no sigh of the Shredder. Turning Karai received another surprise. She saw Slash there staring at her. "But why.." she began.
"I was watchin' ya the whole time," Slash declared. "I wanted to see for myself if you were on our side or not."
"Well now you know," Karai declared, crossing her arms.
"I always admit when I'm wrong," Slash said, a little edge to his voice. "And I was wrong."
"Hey I get why you doubted me," Karai said, looking at the mutant. "Hell I was doubting myself for a minute there."
"Glad you made the right choice," Slash grunted. "Now lets get back to the lair."
"Sounds good to me," Karai declared. With that the snapping turtle and the teen headed back to the lair.
TMNTTMNTTMNT
Meanwhile back at the lair Michelangelo was having a not so pleasant talk with Leonardo. The freckled faced turtle had just informed his oldest brother of Raphael's paralysis. "Man I can't believe this is happening," Leonardo said, shaking his head sadly
"Yeah tell me about it bro," Michelangelo said with a grunt. "Its like this whole thing is one never ending nightmare." Then he said in a much softer voice, "All day and night."
"Mikey are you having nightmares?" Leonardo asked, giving his little brother a look of concern.
"What?" Michelangelo said, surprised the Leonardo had heard him. "No..I'm ok Leo. You don't have to worry about me."
"Mikey," Leonardo said slowly. "You'd feel better if you'd talk about it."
"It..Its fine Leo," Michelangelo said, avoiding eye contact. "I..I've actually been talking to Mondo and LH about them so I'm good."
"You shouldn't be having to deal with this Mikey," Leonardo said with a sigh. "None of us should. And I'm not gonna just sit here and done nothing about it."
"Leo there's nothing you can do," Michelangelo said, giving his brother a strange look.
"The Hell I can't," Leonardo growled, a dark look going across his face. Michelangelo stared at his blue masked brother. He knew that look all too well. It was the look of revenge. But usually it was Raphael that wore that look. Leonardo was usually more calm and level headed than their hotheaded brother was. And that's what worried Michelangelo the most.
"Leo," he began slowly. But he was interrupted by Leonardo pushing him off the bed. "Hey!" Michelangelo protested as he stood up.
"Sorry Mikey but I have to do this," Leonardo declared as he pulled back his blankets.
"Do what Leo?" Michelangelo asked as he watched in shock as the oldest turtle sung his legs over the side of the bed. Michelangelo quickly got in front of his brother. "Leo stop!" he shouted, putting his hands on Leonardo's chest in an effort to keep him from standing.
"Mikey they have to pay for what they've done," Leonardo growled, his eyes full of hate. "They put us through Hell and damn near killed us. And Raph will never walk again because of them! They have to pay! And pay with blood!"
"Whoa Leo just slow down there," Michelangelo said, trying to get his brother calm. "Look bro I get wanting revenge. Don't you think I want that too? But you're hurt. There's no way you'll be able to walk let alone fight anyone with your feet messed like they are."
"I'll be fine," Leonardo declared as he tried once again to stand.
"Leo please just listen to me," Michelangelo pleaded.
"Mikey don't try to stop me!" Leonardo shouted, shoving Michelangelo to the ground. Michelangelo cried out in pain as he landed hard on his broken arm. But Leonardo was so focused on his mission he didn't notice. The blue masked turtle stood, ignoring the pain he felt in his feet. Taking a step Leonardo gritted his teeth as the pain increased. The suddenly his feet gave out on him and he fell to the ground hard. Groaning in pain Leonardo tried to stand but was unable to. Suddenly the door opened and Karai and Slash were there. When the duo saw Michelangelo and Leonardo on the ground groaning in pain their eyes went wide with surprise.
"What happened?!" Karai cried out, running to help Leonardo while Slash helped Michelangelo.
"Don't fucking touch me!" Leonardo cried out, pulling away from Karai.
"I was just trying to help you," Karai said, surprised by Leonardo's attitude. Leonardo wasn't the kind that swore like that
"I don't need your damn help!" Leonardo growled, the sweat pouring off of him as he struggled to stand.
"Leo just let her help you," Michelangelo said as Slash helped him to his feet.
"I'm not some helpless invalid Mikey!" Leonardo shouted. "I can do things for myself!"
"Yeah usually," Karai said. Leonardo glared at his sister but said nothing. So Karai continued saying, "Look Leo I know you hate feeling helpless."
"Like you know me so well," Leonardo growled.
"I know you're a lot like me," Karai shot back. "And I would hate it if I couldn't move at all and had to rely on others to help me. But I also know if you try to do things yourself you're only going to end up hurting yourself worse than you already are. So why don't you save yourself the pain and let me help you?"
"Fine," Leonardo grumbled. "Help me." Without saying anything more Karai went and helped Leonardo back into bed.
"There was that so hard?" she asked, putting her hands on her hips.
"Thanks," Leonardo said, his voice back to normal. "Sorry I yelled at you. And Mikey I'm really sorry I shoved you. Are you ok?" Leonardo looked over at Michelangelo, his blue eyes filled with concern.
"I'm good bro," Michelangelo said with a smile. "No worries."
"I am glad to hear it my son," Splinter said, surprising everyone. The group looked over at the doorway and saw Splinter standing there along with the rest of the group.
"Mind if I check you out just to make sure?" Dr. Rockwell said, walking towards the two brothers.
"Sure if you wanna," Michelangelo said with a shrug as Dr. Rockwell began to examine him.
"Leonardo may I ask why you attempted to get out of bed?" Splinter asked, sitting beside his oldest son.
"I wasn't thinking," Leonardo admitted. "When I heard about Raph everything just seamed to go red for me. All I wanted was revenge. I still do."
"Revenge can wait Leonardo," Slash declared. "When you and Donatello and Michelangelo are back to being 100% me and the rest of my team'll help ya get all the revenge you want."
"I think," Splinter said quickly, wanting to change the subject. "That now is not the time to discuss this."
"You're right Sensei," Leonardo said. "That can wait. Dr. Rockwell how's Mikey?"
"No worse than he was already," Dr. Rockwell declared. "But how are you feeling Leonardo?"
"My feet are killing me," Leonardo admitted. "But its my own damn fault."
"None the less I'm going to give you something for the pain," Dr. Rockwell declared, getting some medicine from his bag and giving it the Leonardo. "Now then no more of this getting out bed," Dr. Rockwell said.
"Don't worry," Leonardo said with a small smile. "I learned my lesson. Trust me I won't be dong that again."
"Glad to hear it," Dr. Rockwell said. "Because the next time you try anything that foolish I'll be forced to tie you to your bed." Without waiting for a response Dr. Rockwell left leaving a speechless Leonardo behind.
A/N well folks there you have ch 25 done. I hope you all enjoyed it and as always please review.