Chapter Twenty-Nine

Packing up

A few days later, the turtles, Mona, Splinter and Karai were making plans to leave for the farmhouse in a couple of days.

Donatello had messaged April and Casey about their plans and they too had agreed that the farmhouse was the safest place to go for Karai to have her baby.

They knew it would be a long journey to the farmhouse from the city, April and Casey said they would share the driving and Donatello even said that he would drive a little once they were out of the city and on the freeways.

Raphael and Mona were slightly concerned about Pandora, even though she had been at the farmhouse since her birth there, she had become more bouncy and restless and were concerned that it would be stressful for her but Michelangelo said he would keep her occupied on the long journey.

"We'll play some games together." the young turtle said, "We'll spot things on the way through the windows and sing some songs!"

Raphael looked a little worried as he wondered what sort of things they would sing, he often found himself humming theme songs to some of Pandora's shows and films and Mona even mentioned he would quote lines from some of the films she liked to watch over and over again in his sleep.

"Last night." Mona said at breakfast one morning "You called out 'I'm surrounded by idiots!'"

Raphael was shocked whilst everyone else began laughing as they remembered that quote from the Lion King.

"Well I am surrounded by morons half the time." Raphael defended as he looked towards Michelangelo who was laughing harder than everyone else.


Meanwhile, standing alone in her room, Karai stroked her swollen stomach as she stared at herself in the mirror, she had stripped of her clothes and she was as naked as a newborn.

Running her fingers over her exposed skin, she felt around for her baby, though still small inside her, she could feel her need and want to hold it, bond with it and do everything a mother was to do for her child.

She lifted her arms up to her breasts that were already tender and swollen due to the breast-milk that filled in them and cupped them as she imagined her child suckling at her breast as she fed it her milk as she held it close to her, giving it the food needed to grow as well as love and affection.

She cradled her arms imagining she was holding the child close to her, ready to protect and defend.

Closing her eyes she could already feel the soft flesh, the little bit of hair on the baby's head, the warmth of the tiny body she held close to her.

Karai then imagined that Chaplin was behind her, holding her close as they cradled her baby.

"Oh Chaplin..." she whispered as tears flowed from her eyes, "I miss you so much...I long for you to be with me each day, standing by me as we bring up our baby together..."

She opened her eyes again and saw herself in the mirror, naked and vulnerable with her belly swollen.

Holding her stomach she stroked it more and the tears fell more rapidly, how she wished for the nine months to be over, so she could hold her child and feel that close bond.


As she continued to dream, a knock at the door made her jump.

"Karai?" she soon heard Leonardo's voice from the other side, "Karai? You okay?"

Karai quickly grabbed her robe and wrapped it around herself.

"Leo?" she called as she tied her robe

"Are you okay Karai?" asked Leonardo "Can I talk to you?"

"Yes...Yes...come in!" Karai called breathlessly as the door opened and Leonardo walked inside.

"Oh hey Karai!" he said with a smile, his eyes travelled to her belly and his eyes shone "How's the little one?" he asked.

"We're okay." Said Karai "I can't wait for the child to start kicking...I'm still going over the many names in my head, Chaplin and I had a lot of names planned for the child..."

She sat on the bed and Leonardo sat next to her.

Leonardo lifted his hand and reached over to feel for the child, he hesitated slightly as he wasn't sure if Karai would let him, but she gave him a nod saying it was alright and he felt Karai's stomach.

"Wow..." he said softly. Though there was no movement, he could tell that there was a baby in there, and he couldn't wait to feel the child kicking soon.

"We'll be ready to leave the following night." Leonardo said "Donatello's gotten everything packed up, including everything we'll need for the birth, right now he's topside discussing plans with April and Casey, we're gonna have to be careful to slip out of the city without the Foot or the Venomous Five finding us..."

Karai chewed her lip as she looked worried.

"The battle shell is a tough van." Said Leonardo "April and Casey will drive us out of the city, and me, my brothers and Mona will be armed and make sure that no harm comes to you, the baby or Pandora."

"How's Pandora taking it?" asked Karai "About us leaving the farmhouse?"

"She's okay." Said Leonardo "Well, Mona and Raphael haven't explained why we're going, all they've said is that we're going on a holiday at the farmhouse and she would be able to play outside in the sun."

Karai chuckled.

"She's such a cute girl." She said "I hope my child will be as cute as her."

"I'm sure it will." Said Leonardo stroking Karai's stomach again feeling for the baby "You're gonna have a beautiful child..."

"I hope so..." said Karai softly as she stroked her stomach again "My own beautiful baby..."


Meanwhile, topside, Donatello had met April and Casey not far from their shop, they didn't dare meet at the shop just in case the Foot or the Venomous Five were watching.

They stood in an alleyway and Donatello spoke about the plans to leave for the Farmhouse in a couple of days.

"I've made sure everything's packed for whilst their there." Donatello informed "As well as for the journey, it'll be a long drive."

"That is correct." April said "Casey and I will share the driving and we'll make sure we get there as quickly as possible, and we'll have to go carefully with Karai's precious load."

"How is the baby Don?" asked Casey.

"Growing healthily." Donatello said "I've been checking on her everyday...won't be long before the baby's kicking."

"That's brilliant Don!" said April "I can't wait till the child is finally born!"

"Me neither." Said Casey "It's gonna be really exciting!"

"We'll meet you in a couple of days at the lair." April said "At the time you instructed, then we'll slip out of New York before the Shredder realizes we're gone!"


As they were talking, April, Casey and Donatello had no idea that up on a rooftop opposite, Gila Monster and Nile Monitor were watching and had heard everything that was said.

Gila Monsters eyes flashed and Nile Monitor smirked.

"So that's where the bitch has been hiding all this time..." Nile Monitor hissed "Hiding out with the turtles!"

"Oh the boss is gonna love this!" Gila Monster growled as he watched Donatello talk to April and Casey.

Nile Monitor as he was keeping his eyes on the three below, he pressed a button on his communicator and started to talk into the earpiece on his ear, at once he heard Komodo Dragon on the other side.

"Komodo!" he snarled "The turtle Donatello, and his human friends April and Casey have been located!"

"Have they?" snarled Komodo Dragon.

"And they've been talking..." said Nile Monitor "We've heard something interesting...and something the masters will want to hear..."

"Well...stop wasting time!" Komodo Dragon growled on the earpiece "What did you hear?"

"It seems the turtles have taken Karai in!" Nile Monitor snarled "Karai has joined with the turtles! They've given her sanctuary!"

"What!?" cried Komodo Dragon on the other side of the earpiece "Those reptiles have taken in Karai!?"

"We heard it from our own ears!" said Nile Monitor "What are your orders?"

The two reptiles soon heard a hiss from Komodo Dragon.

"Follow them..." he said "Don't let them out of your sight! And when you catch Donatello...and the humans bring them to me!"

"Got it!" said Nile Monitor.

"I'll inform the Masters..." said Komodo Dragon "Follow that brainy turtle and humans but keep them alive and unharmed! They'll be needed for interrogation!"

"Got it!" said Nile Monitor as he hung up his earpiece, he then turned to Gila Monster.

"Alright Gila..." he said "We follow that turtle and his friends!"

Gila Monster nodded and licked his lips showing his teeth.

"I'm gonna enjoy this..." he hissed.

Awww, such tender moments earlier, but Gila Monster and Nile Monitor have spotted Donatello, April and Casey and have found out about Karai!

What will happen next? Tune in to find out!