Season 4- Episode 5- Finally Reunited

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The room turned quiet as Splinter and Karai stared at each other with wide eyes. Karai's eyes turned to Donnie for a second, revealing her regret and sorrow. Donnie, who understood what she was feeling clearly, gave her a small smile and a nod to show her that he does not blame her. She smiled with relief, and then ran at Splinter and embraced him with force, making him flinch in surprise.

"I am so sorry, father." She whispered.

Splinter's eyes widened, and then slowly, he wrapped his arms around her and hugged her back.

"My daughter." He whispered, with an enormous smile on his face.

"Thank you, my sons." Splinter said with an emotional tone which he almost never revealed.

The brothers smiled at him as he looked at them in pride.

"No need to thank us, sensei." Leo responded with excitement and happiness.

"I indeed need to thank you. This is all because of you." Splinter said, as he and Karai finally broke their embrace.

Karai walked towards Donnie and gave him a quick side hug. "Sorry, Donatello. I just made you more stressed out than you already are. Didn't I?" She asked awkwardly.

Donnie shook his head as he was quick to deny. "It's not your fault, Karai. The most important thing is that you are here with us."

There wasn't even one person in the room that wasn't smiling.

After around twenty minutes of chatting and catching up, the guys finally departed to do their usual things around the lair.

Karai, who finally finished speaking to Master Splinter, looked around the lair to take everything in. The situation was quite shocking, after all.

She noticed the lab's lights were on, and curiosity took over her as she walked towards it and entered the lab.

"Here to experiment?" Donnie immediately asked her as she stepped in, with a smile on his face.

"Well, not really. I was just curious. You actually have a lab here?" Karai looked around in amazement as she walked towards the desk that Donnie sat behind, fiddling with some unknown substances.

"Yeah. Although it's mostly just for me. I'm the only science guy here, you see." Donnie chuckled as Karai smiled in return.

"Nice to know that my brother is a nerd." She said with a devilish smirk.

"Well, this nerd can kick your butt. So watch it." Donnie rolled his eyes as Karai laughed. "And the nerd has a rich vocabulary, I see."

"Also," She starts. "How have you been doing? Since… You know." Her face turned into a frown as Donnie flinched.

He put down the beaker that he was holding and looked at the floor with sadness. "I've been doing what I can, I guess." He sighed out.

"Tough time?" Karai asked as she sat on the side of the table.

"Yeah, It's hard. You know? I mean, you would understand what it's like to find out you've been lied to about a huge thing that concerns you." Donnie mumbled, as Karai's face turned into a scowl. "Tell me about it."

"Actually, the Foot noticed that you don't leave the lair anymore. Are you too sad to leave?" She asked gently, to which Donnie surprised her with a chuckle.

"What? Are you kidding me? I'm dying to leave!" Donnie smiled at her as he put on his goggles and took the beaker in his hand once again.

"Then, why aren't you leaving?" Karai asked with wide eyes and mouth agape.

"Well, we assumed that the Shredder would search for me, so my family forces me to stand low for now so that I wouldn't get captured." Donnie slightly shuddered at the thought.

Karai flinched in terror as she understood that it's indeed true. And not only that, but she had been aiding them until now.

"I'm… So sorry." Karai whispered sadly. Donnie looked at her in surprise.

"Don't even apologize! You didn't know." Karai looked at him in sadness, and then turned to look at the floor.

"Besides, it's my fault. I just… Wasn't supposed to exist." Donnie smiled sadly as he looked away.

Karai quickly whipped her head in his direction as her eyes widened in terror.

"What?!" Karai yelped in shock.

"Karai. My presence endangers everyone around me. I'm just… A burden." Donnie bit his lip as he tried to stop it from quivering.

"You…" Karai whispered, too shocked to actually form a sentence.

"It's fine, Karai. I totally understand and accept this." Donnie put on a fake smile, not managing to hide his sadness.

Karai could swear that she saw his eyes glass over with tears as he stood up and left quickly. "Just try and rest." He called quietly as he left Karai alone in the lab, standing with wide eyes that stared at the exit of the room with great sadness and terror.

It was all the Shredder's fault.

He is the reason that Donatello is struggling and has to stay locked in the lair to avoid getting captured.

'I shall give the Shredder a lesson, myself. I will make sure that he doesn't harm Donatello or anyone else ever again.'

Karai growled under her breath. She had to leave and take care of him herself.

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Good luck, Karai! Donnie is sure to appreciate this :D