Chapter 32: A "New" Addition

The door to the dojo slowly opened and closed. Rockwell stepped away from the door, hearing the rush of feet.

"What happened?"

"Is he okay?"

"Did it work?"

"Is Donnie back?"

"Rockwell!"

"Tell us!"

"Calm yourselves," Rockwell said, putting a hand up. "Patience. Master Splinter will be out soon."

"But," Karai started, setting a step away from her brothers. "Did it work? Is Donnie back?"

Rockwell tried to hide his smile and failed. "My cure worked like I predicted. Donatello is back, in a way."

Mikey cried out in relief, sinking to his knees with Raph following close, wrapping an arm around his brother. Leo kept staring at Rockwell, trying to find any reason to not believe his hopeful words. This all seemed like some crazy dream. It was hard to believe that the nightmare their lives had become was finally over.

"My children." The soft voice spoke out and all four looked over to the dojo. Splinter had opened the door, holding a bundle of purple in his arms. The stress and grief that had taken residence on his face were gone, replaced by relief and his eyes sparkled with happiness. "Would you like to say hello?"

Rockwell, stepped aside, ready to give the reunited family some space. Karai took a step forward, but stopped. As much as she wanted to make sure Donatello was alright, she knew it meant more to Leo, Raph, and Mikey. A smile lit her face as she watched the other turtles make their way to their father. It was worth the wait to see their faces.

Leo was the first one to reach their father. He stared at the purple bundle, unsure of what to do. Splinter gave him a reassuring smile and urged his son closer. Leo reached out, his fingers shaking as he pulled the blanket away, revealing a little turtle. The turtle yawned and opened his eyes, blinking up at Leo with bright familiar brown eyes.

Leo gave a relieved laugh and reached out, letting his fingers trail along the cheek. Donatello let out a giggle and reached up, grabbing one of Leo's fingers with his entire hand. Leo smiled which Donnie mimicked, causing Leo's smile to become even wider. He looked up hopefully at his father. Splinter smiled and lowered Donatello into Leo's arms. Leo stammered for a moment as Splinter adjusted his arms.

Donnie cooed up at his brother as Leo gently rocked him. "Man…. You're just adorable, Donnie." Donnie laughed reaching up to grab at Leo. "How would you like to say hi? I know some people who would love to see you." Leo turned around to face Raph and Mikey. "Come on you two. Don't just stand there. Come say hi."

Mikey immediately raced forward, looking at the bundle in Leo's arms. "Hey there, little guy. Aren't you just the cutest thing?" Donnie looked up at Mikey curiously before laughing at the wide smile. "Can I hold him, Leo?"

Leo shook his head. "I kinda want to hold onto him for a little bit longer, Mike."

"Step aside, Mikey," Raph growled out, stepping forward to look at the little Donnie. Donnie immediately stopped laughing when Mikey was pulled from his vision and stared up at Raph with curiosity. Raph paused for a moment, unsure about what to do when Donnie reached up, grabbing one of his mask tails, and giving it a sharp pull. Raph couldn't help the bubble of laughter and gently pried Donnie's fingers from his hold. "You know, Mikey's right. You are kinda cute."

Leo smiled as his brothers cooed over Donnie and looked up. Karai stood by Rockwell, smiling gently at their little reunion. "Hey, Karai. Don't you want to see our little brother?"

Karai froze. Leo had said our little brother. Her smile got bigger as she stepped forward to see the little bundle in Leo's arms. Donnie looked up at her with huge eyes, cooing up and reaching toward her with small hands. "Welcome back, little brother." Karai let Donnie take her fingers as Raph and Mikey completed the circle around their brother.

"Thank you, Doctor Rockwell," Leo stated, looking over at the monkey.

Rockwell smiled. "I'm glad I was able to help. I will be back every once and a while to test him to see when he'll be ready for the next shot. I'm only a phone call away if you need anything."

"Once again, thank you," Splinter said, walking forward to place a hand on Leonardo's shoulder. Rockwell gave one final wave before leaving the lair. "Now, Leonardo, let one of your siblings hold Donatello. You are not the only one who missed him."

"Hai, Sensei," Leo nodded, trying to bring up some will power to hand Donnie over to an eager Mikey, who was practically bouncing with excitement.

"Michelangelo, you must be careful," Splinter instructed as Leo handed Donnie over. "Donatello is a bit fragile and will need plenty of care and supervision."

"Even more than before?" Raph asked as Mikey adjusted his hold and began to whisper soft words.

Splinter nodded. "He is only a baby."

"Do you think he's all there?" Mikey asked softly, keeping his eyes trained on Donnie, in case he were to disappear the moment he let his eyes wander.

"I think so," Splinter answered honestly. "I remember seeing the same look on each of you when you were that age. A look of recognition. He at least knows we mean safety and love. For now, I am thankful for that."

"May I?" Karai asked, stepping up. Mikey took his eyes off of his brother, his wide blue eyes filling with tears.

"But….. but….. but…"

"Michelangelo, you will have plenty of time to cuddle your brother. Let others have a chance to hold him."

Mikey nodded and handed Donatello over to Karai. She expertly held him, cuddling him close as he gave her a smile and reached up to pat her check. Karai smiled back, whispering, "That's it, little brother. You know you're safe. Your big sister, Karai has you."

Leo stepped up to Raph, who looked at the scene with longing and sickness. "You look a little green."

Raph nodded. "I just…. I don't know how to process this."

"By just accepting the situation," Leo said. "Why don't you hold him?"

"He won't like me," Raph whispered, watching Mikey and Karai make Donnie laugh and giggle. Mikey was currently making funny faces which earned him high pinched laughter.

"Raph, this is Donnie we're talking about."

"I know, Leo. I'm just….."

"Afraid he'll be scared of you?" Leo asked, shooting Raph a look. "You can be mister tough when you protect him but it's okay to show your soft side every now and then. Now would be a great time."

"Go on, Raphael," Splinter urged, pushing Raph forward.

Mikey and Karai looked up at the stumble. Karai smiled and walked forward. "Come on. It's your turn." Raph awkwardly grabbed onto Donnie, trying to figure out how to hold him. "Just place your arm under his head and this one around and…. There. See? Easy."

"Yeah, easy," Raph breathed as Donnie's entire focus was on him. Donnie gave him a wide smile before yawning, stretching his little fists out, one hitting his plastron. Donnie gave a sleepy look up at Raph below closing his eyes, his breathing evening out as he snuggled close to Raph's chest, listening to his heartbeat.

"Awwwwww," Mikey cooed, leaning forward to look at the tiny face. "He's so cute. Can he sleep in my room?"

Splinter sighed, taking the purple bundle from Raphael's arms. "Now, now, Michelangelo, Donatello will be staying with me."

"But…. Sensei….. I promise I'll take good care of him," Mikey whined, trying to put his puppy dog eyes to work.

"Donatello is a baby, Michelangelo, not a pet. He has different needs," Splinter stated, shushing Donatello as he grunted in discomfort as the loud voice of his brother disturbed him from his sleep. "We must keep that in mind. The next few weeks are going to be difficult."

Leo sighed, holding Donnie close to his chest, letting his little brother play with the ends of his mask. Donnie was babbling to himself, gently pulling the blue tails, and occasionally gnawing on the ends. Each time the tails ended up in Donnie's mouth, Leo would reach around and put them back in his little hands. Leo smiled as Donnie went to put the mask back in his mouth. "Now, now, Donnie. Those aren't good for you. I know you're hungry but be patient. I'm sure Karai will be back soon."

Donnie let out a small cry at having his toy taken away. Leo gently shushed him and rubbed the little shell. He was on his own at the moment. Mikey was helping Master Splinter set up a small bed in his room for Donnie to sleep in at night and search for something easy to move for him to rest in during the day. Raph had left with Karai with a list of supplies they would need. Well, Raph was there to carry what Karai needed to get. Leo sighed, looking over at the clock. Raph and Karai should be returning soon.

"Hey, Leo. How's everything?" Mikey asked as he walked into the room.

"Just fine," Leo answered. "Did you get the crib all set up?"

Mikey nodded. "I've also got a little something for Donnie." Mikey held up an old, worn teddy bear. Donnie's small cries subsided as he look at the stuffed animal for a moment before grabbing at it and holding it tight. "So cute."

"I hope Raph and Karai will return soon," Leo admitted, making sure Donnie kept a good hold on his new toy.

Mikey smiled, rubbing the little head softly. "I'm sure they'll be back any second."

"Hey! We're back!"

Donnie jumped at the loud yelling of their brother and dropped the stuffed animal to the ground. He froze for a moment before his face scrunched up and large, fat tears streaked down, his loud cries sounding through the lair. Leo and Mikey froze, both looking at each other with no idea what to do. Raph was also frozen at the entrance of the lair.

"Oh, give him here." Karai pulled Donnie out of Leo's arms, ducking down to grab the fallen teddy bear. Leo wasn't even sure where Karai even came from as she pulled Donnie to her chest, gave him the teddy bear, and began to softly sing a Japanese lullaby. It took a few lines but Donnie's cries softened and all that was left were a few stray tears and a couple of sniffles.

"Wow, you're a mircule worker!" Mikey breathed, watching as his brother was soothed.

Karai rolled her eyes and walked back over to the several bags at the entrance. "It's really easy. All he wants is love and affection and to not have people yell or make loud noises." She turned a glare on Raph before reaching into a bag and pulling out a premade bottle.

"How did you find that?" Leo asked, watching as she gave it to their brother, who hungrily began to drink.

"I made it on the way down here. I knew Donnie needed something to eat as soon as possible," Karai answered.

"That was smart to come prepared, Karai," Splinter stated, entering the room. "Where did you learn that song?"

Karai blushed, focusing on Donnie. "I don't know. I've always known it."

Splinter's face broke into a sad smile as he reached out and gently ran a finger across her check. "Your mother used to sing that to you when you were young."

Karai let out a sharp breath before smiling. "Then I'm glad I could use her song to help Donnie."

Author's Note: Man! I never imagined how well this would be going or how long this story would be. As for Karai, I imagine growing up with the Shredder would be hard and as a child she would have jumped on the family shows and learned tricks from there. Really special shout out to Kamechan98 for being the 200th reviewer! YAY! Also, special thanks to Juanita27, Pilyartquitect, Fever To Write, Turtle Lover101, Bipper Cipher3, Susan, CuriousHeather, Sonic155, and Andraia452 for their reviews. I always love reading what you guys have to say. Until next time!