The False Face Society

A/N: I've got a big surprise for you guys…I promised you a Batman / Green Hornet crossover and here it is! Again, this is set in modern day, my OC Donnie Anders is in this and this is a serious take on the Dark Knight. Because, I'll be honest, I thought the last crossover between the bug and the bat was a fun adventure but completely hair-pulling for a GH fan like me. Come on, Kato and Robin fighting a draw? All Kato had to do was push the Boy Wonder and it would've been over in two seconds flat.

This is set a year after Bad Medicine and I think you'll find that Britt and Donnie's relationship has changed…they're not romantically interested in each other anymore and their friendship has become almost a big brother/ little sister relationship. Even when I was writing it, I did get more vibes of a sibling like relationship.

With all that said, enjoy and destroy!

.45 Magnum Surprise

Night was falling on Century City as the Black Beauty pulled into the shadows of the old Red Paint Club. The occupants got out and the driver locked the doors before they went to the bolted steel door. It had changed from the last time he was there, the Green Hornet thought as he walked up to the cold and frightening steel gaze. Last time he was there to get the trust of Butch Manuel.

This time, he was going to talk to a new up and coming criminal lord. Somebody who invited him to join his group. The False Face Society as they were called.

They had already hit up a couple of banks in the area along with attacking the Museum of Art. Oddly enough, the only thing that was taken was a large collection of handmade Venetian Carnival masks. Frank had hypothesized that this was for a personal gains rather than financial. Yet the masks were worth quite a deal of money.

Here goes nothing. The Hornet thought as he rapped his knuckles on the steel door. The peephole slid open. Hornet could see the shining eyes behind a carved mask. "The Master is ill." A man stated, the first part of the code.

"We are his loyal servants." Hornet repeated the other half of the code. The peephole slid shut and the door creaked open. Taking a deep breath to steady the adrenaline buzz, he stepped inside, followed closely behind by Kato.

It was dark inside. A sole light bulb glowed over a long rectangular table. At the other end was a shadowy figure, sitting in a large chair. The long sides of the table was also lined with various people of many heights, all dressed in trench-coats and wearing fedoras. They wore masks of many different animals. Hornet counted about twenty but since it was so dark, he wasn't certain.

A dangerous guess. He thought, remembering the footage he had seen. This group's actions were perfectly choreographed, proving this was tightly run like a clock. The way this group was run, he knew they were capable of anything.

"Welcome to the False Face Society, Green Hornet." The figure at the end spoke and slowly rose. His voice was hollow, no doubt he was wearing a mask as well. "Normally we would give you and your bodyguard masks in the welcoming ceremony, but since you already have them on, that seems rather redundant."

The Green Hornet kept his hand near the overcoat pocket holding his gas gun in case he needed to use it. "You called us here for a reason. Why?" Hornet asked.

"Itching to get down to business, aren't you? That's my kind of man." The leader said. "The rules of the game are simple. I develop a plan and send the ones best suited to the job. When the plan is executed, the members return with the goods and everyone is paid based on their role. There is no room for errors. Anyone makes a mistake, they pay the price."

"I don't work for anyone." The Hornet said, calculating his next move. He had to be careful. The wrong word would end either blowing their cover or them dead. "I was under the understanding that we're partners."

"And you will be. Your skill set sets you apart from the others. I've seen you and your man in action. It's perfect. Precise. Well executed. With your skills and my plans, we will be unstoppable." The leader said, leaning forward. The Hornet caught a glimpse of the immaculate and tailored suit. He wore fine leather gloves. But the part about him that made the Hornet shudder was the mask.

It was made out of ebony wood, carved to resemble a gaunt face, almost skull-like. Even the eye holes were round and deep like a corpse's.

"Your advance is ready." The Black Mask said, holding out an envelope. "Inside is ten-thousand untraceable bills. It's your call, Hornet. You can either take my deal or leave now on good terms. But remember this, if you join our little group, you are bound by blood. Work with us and be rewarded beyond your wildest dreams. Go against us and you'll pay dearly."

Part of the Hornet wondered if he should leave. The False Face Society and the Black Mask meant business. This was far more dangerous than anything else he and Kato had done. He could feel Kato watching him along with the other animal masks.

But there was no other way to find out. "You have yourself a deal." Hornet said, holding out his hand and shaking the leader's hand.

"Excellent. Now it's time for your first task." The leader snapped his gloved fingers.

There was a yelling sound. Everyone turned to a figure being dragged in by two men wearing tiger masks. The figure, crying out sharply as he was dropped to the Black Mask's feet.

Hornet's heart stopped. It was Mike Axford… "Hornet, you dirty crook…I just knew you had something to do with the False Face Society!" The ace reporter barked at Hornet.

"You should've thought of that before snooping around here." The Black Mask said, taking something out of his pocket and giving it to the Hornet. It was a Remington-Pedersen 51 pistol, glowing in the light hanging from the ceiling. "And now you'll pay the price." The Black Mask said. "Kill him, Hornet."

"Go ahead Hornet." Mike goaded. "I know you've wanted to off me for some time."

Hornet wanted to give back that gun and shout that he wouldn't do that. However, the Army Captain in him reminded him to keep his cool. "We'll take care of him somewhere else. This isn't the best place to take care of someone." Hornet said.

"Remember my warning." The Black Mask warned amid creaking floorboards. The other members looked up nervously. Why were they so nervous? Hornet wondered. It was like they were waiting for somebody to jump down on them.

"I know this town. The main police station is two blocks northwest of here. A gun goes off and they'll be here before the gunpowder has a chance to settle." Hornet said, trying to make him see reason. "In any case, he may prove useful to us. He's one of the reporters for the Daily Sentinel. His boss will pay nicely to see him alive. Once the officials know that we're together, they'll be too afraid to attack us. Thought I'd mention that and save us all the trouble."

"No, they won't be afraid!" Mike shouted. "I'll make sure they'll go after you with everything they've got!"

"Shut up!" Kato yelled as he backhanded Mike. It wasn't hard enough to knock him out, but enough for him to stop talking.

There was silence as the Black Mask considered the Hornet's words. Hornet could hear Mike breathing. "Then do with him what you will." The Black Mask said.

The Hornet wanted to sigh in relief. Now they could take Mike to the townhouse. Once there, he'd be safe.

But before they could continue, there was a whirring sound. "What the hell was that?!" Hornet cried out as something struck his hand. The gun went flying, clattering to the floor.

Mike dove for the gun. Hornet jumped after him, determined to get the gun away from Mike. But the former police officer was faster. He grabbed the gun and held it up to the Hornet's face. Hornet felt scared at the look on Mike's face, the look of satisfaction. There was another whirring sound. "What the…?!" Mike yelped as he also lost control of the gun. It flew off into the corner. Hornet caught the sight of something embedded into a support beam.

It was small and made of metal. Hornet identified it as a shuriken, a Japanese throwing star. However, it was shaped like a bat.

"Holy shit! It's the Bat!" One of them shouted. The Black Mask looked up as a black shadow jumped down from the rafters, landing on him. Hornet could only watch, dumbfounded, as the shadow slunk around the room, taking out each of the masked men in turn.

BANG! A loud gunshot ripped through the air. But it missed the shadow. BANG! "Get him! Don't just stand there! Get him!" One of the men shouted as he drew his gun. BANG! Another gunshot. But the shadow didn't stop.

Kato jumped up, running after the figure. He leapt with a kick to the head. Yet the Hornet watched as the shadow grabbed Kato's ankle and swung him around, throwing him off. Kato did a somersault, diverting the energy of the fall before landing on his feet. Yet there was a look of shock on his face. As if he wasn't expecting this to happen.

There was the familiar flashing of red and blue lights. "That's the cops!" Mike said proudly. Hornet could see a cell phone in the reporter's hand.

They had to get out. They had to get out now. Before he did, he grabbed the bat shaped shuriken, hoping for some kind of lead as to this Bat was a friend or foe. Hornet whistled. Kato followed him as they ran out the back door to where the Black Beauty was.

"Freeze Hornet!" Hornet heard the sound of a gun cocking and a cop yelling nearby. Kato activated the Black Beauty's blinding lights to buy time for them to get to the car. "Augh! Get him!" Hornet ran.

BANG!

The Hornet felt a tapping sensation in his left bicep. It lasted for just a moment. But he knew he had to get out of here. Fast. Before the Bat and cops caught him, Kato or both.

"Come on!" Kato shouted, draping the Hornet's arm over his shoulders and half assisting, half dragging him to the Black Beauty. Suddenly exhausted, the Hornet collapsed into the back seat and Kato jumped into the front. He couldn't feel Kato slam his foot on the accelerator, launching the car out of the deserted club and onto the streets.

"That was a close call." The Hornet said, feeling himself grow weaker. He had felt this feeling once before. Back when he and Kato busted those two crooked cops. One glance at his left arm confirmed his suspicions. A hole went clean through his sleeve. The once green wool was now stained with blood and it was spreading rapidly.

He had been shot.

The adrenaline pumping through him ensured that he didn't feel it. But now he felt like somebody was stabbing his arm with a white hot knife.

Fighting the exhaustion creeping through him, the Hornet took off his coat and began ripping apart the torn fabric, trying to stem the bleeding. "Call Donnie. Tell her to meet us at the house." He ordered, wrapping the torn strips around his arm and tightening them with his teeth.

"I'm calling her now." Kato said, touching a button on the console. His voice was calm, but the Hornet could see the fear in his comrade's eyes from the rearview mirror. Army fear. You never leave your partner behind. It was a rule that had served them well.

The Hornet felt himself flop down on the leather seat. This was bad.

"Britt, stay with me." Kato ordered as the Hornet slipped into darkness.

The last thing he felt was his fingers clutching the bat shaped shuriken.

That night was our weekly television show night at the apartment. We had decided to watch some reruns of The Twilight Zone. Casey and I were sitting together on the couch, enjoying buttered popcorn, strawberry milkshakes and Rod Serling's hypnotic voice. Hortensia, Casey's cat, was curled up on her toes, purring away. My annoying parrot Hippo had finally settled down for the night.

I heard my phone go off. "Will you excuse me a second, Casey?" I asked, stepping away. She nodded before returning to her show. It was listed under 'Daniel Silverton'. Oh no…I thought as I answered it. That was the number connected to the Black Beauty. "This is Anders." I said, trying to remain calm and hoping it was just them with a question.

"Donnie, it's Kato. Hornet's been shot." Kato said.

"How bad?" I asked, fighting to remain calm. Not Britt…not him…

"Bad. Meet us at the house ASAP." Kato said before hanging up. I knew this wasn't good. As I grabbed my things, Casey looked at me.

"Something happen at the hospital?" She asked.

I didn't want to frighten her. The last thing she needed was to find out that our best friend was probably dying of a gunshot. "Yeah. I'm needed immediately." I said. "Sorry, Case."

"It's ok." She said with a smile. "I'll just enjoy the milkshakes then."

"Sounds great. I'll text when I'm coming home." I felt grim as I said that. Hopefully I wouldn't be too late.

"Britt?" I called out as I entered the house. There was no answer. "Kato?" I tried again.

"We're upstairs, Donnie." Kato called from Britt's room. I ran up the stairs, taking them two at a time. "I'm going to warn you now that it's bad."

"I've seen bad." I said as I went into Britt's room. Even though I had seen people near death, I still wasn't prepared for the sight I ran into.

Kato had gotten Britt's coat and shirt off, they were tossed in a haphazard pile on the floor along with the Hornet's mask, hat and gloves. Britt was lying in the bed, unconscious. His clammy skin was as pale as the bed sheets. His left arm and right hand were wrapped with gauze. A full field kit was open at the foot of the bed, filled with enough medicine, bandages and medical equipment to last a lifetime. One of the things I spotted was a bottle of hand sanitizer. I grabbed it and began applying it liberally to my hands and up my arms to my elbows.

Kato had also taken off his hat, gloves and mask and was looking at me, as if afraid to ask if Britt would make it.

"Let's see what the damage is this time." I said, taking out my stethoscope and putting the buds in my ears, resting the bell on Britt's chest. Fortunately, I could hear his heartbeat and breathing. It was faster than normal. "His heart rate is elevated." I said, taking off my stethoscope and laying it across my neck. I took his pulse, counting 124 beats per minute. I could barely feel it.

Britt's symptoms narrowed the diagnosis. I had a good idea what it was. But there was one way to make sure. It would involve taking his blood pressure. Fortunately, that field kit had an electronic sphygmomanometer. I slipped Britt's arm into the cuff and turned it on. "How did you treat his injury before I got here?" I asked Kato as the cuff inflated and the machine measured Britt's blood pressure.

"I managed to get the bleeding to stop and wrapped up his arm." Kato finally said. "He passed out as I was calling you."

"You did a good job, Kato." I said. A beep confirmed that the measurements were done. His systolic blood pressure read 98 mmHg. My diagnosis was confirmed. "He's in Stage 3 hypovolemia and slipping into Stage 4." I said. Kato looked at me like I was speaking Martian. "There's four stages in regards to blood loss, with one being minimal and four being critical. He's essentially going into shock. We should get him to a hospital and fast."

Kato held up his hands. "No. I heard it on the police scanner. People would get suspicious. I'm sorry, Donnie. But I don't want to risk it."

I realized his point. The Hornet's identity would be compromised and everything would unravel. Even if he was a good guy, the Hornet was still a wanted man. I gave in. "He needs an emergency transfusion after I repair the injury. What's his blood type?" I asked, looking through the field kit for what I needed.

"AB Positive. I'm O Positive." Kato said.

"Type O is the universal donor and Type AB is the universal receiver. Works out perfectly then." I said, finally feeling hopeful.

The first thing Britt could feel was that he was lying on something. He felt tired. Dead dog tired as his old man used to say. What happened? Britt wondered as his senses slowly came back. The last thing he could remember was going to talk to this mysterious criminal.

A black mask.

False faces.

Slinking shadows

A gunshot.

He was in his room. Predawn gray light came in through the windows. He couldn't really see that well, but he recognized the familiar scent of Old Spice and Bounce dryer sheets.

"…how's our patient?" Donnie was asking in a low voice.

"Nothing's changed, obviously." Kato responded. It sounded like they were standing at the foot of the bed.

"Kato, why don't you go to bed? I can take care of him from here." Donnie said. There was a pause. "He looks like he's out of the woods. Now get to bed or I'll kick your butt clear to it."

There was a soft laugh. "Ok, done deal." He said.

Kato turned to leave. "Kato?" Donnie said. Britt could see her touching Kato's shoulder kindly. "Don't blame yourself. That's an order."

"Yes, ma'am." Kato said before leaving the room.

By then, Britt had his sight back. He could see the bandage wrapped around his left bicep. A dull throb radiated from it. He noticed the IV line connected from his arm to a bag filled with clear fluid hanging above his head. A drip chamber slowly filled with fluid. No doubt it was to replace what fluids he had lost last night. Maybe some very strong painkillers as well, he thought.

"Morning." Donnie said, getting out her stethoscope and walking over to Britt.

"What? No candy? No flowers?" He joked, trying to get her to smile.

But her face didn't change. "Just be glad that you're not dead." Donnie said in a calm tone as she rested the drum against his chest. She was angry, best to not say anything more to provoke her. Britt thought as he began to breathe deeply as Donnie slowly moved the drum of her stethoscope.

"How bad was it?" Britt asked gingerly as she took his pulse.

"We almost lost you last night." Donnie said, picking up an otoscope from the nightstand. "Don't blink." Britt was temporarily blinded as she checked out both eyes. "I'm going to say this until the day I die. Britt Reid, you are an idiot."

"At your service." Britt flinched. There was something else…Casey… "Casey. Does she know?"

Donnie shook her head as she put her equipment away. "I just told her that I had an emergency at the hospital."

"Thank you." Britt said. "The last thing she needs is to be scared."

"That's why I did it. So then…" Donnie said. "Is there anything I can get you?"

"Just some water would be nice and thank you, Donnie." Britt said.

"You're welcome." Donnie said as she left.

I yawned as I went downstairs to get Britt's water. It was a good thing that I had today off. I thought as I opened the fridge and took out a bottled water. "One for Britt," I mumbled as I took out another one. "And one for me." I didn't know if I could take care of patients today if I was this exhausted.

The lights suddenly flicked on. Twirling around, I saw Casey standing in the doorway. Her brown eyes looked at me angrily and she folded her arms in front of her chest. "Frank called, wondered where you and Britt were and if you were ok as neither of you were answering." She said calmly.

I sighed, knowing that it was only a matter of time until Casey would've found out. "I didn't want to scare you." I said, cracking open my bottled water and taking a sip of the cold water inside.

"I can handle anything." Casey said, clearly upset. I could tell that she was holding back the curses she wanted to hurl at me, as much as I deserved them."

"Are you sure?" I asked, feeling guilty. "He nearly bled out last night. If Kato wasn't a match for his blood type, we probably would've lost him. Could you have handled that?"

"Let me decide that, Donnie." Casey said, taking the bottled water from the kitchen table. "Why don't you get some sleep yourself? I can take care of Britt. If I need anything, I'll get you."

"That sounds great, actually." I said, rubbing my eyes. "And Case? I should've been honest with you and I'm sorry that I wasn't."

"Thank you for the apology." Casey said.

Britt smelled the familiar scent of lavender perfume outside his door. It wasn't Donnie. Donnie wore pomegranate scented perfume. He knew only one woman who wore that perfume. Sure enough, Casey stepped into the doorway, holding a bottled water. She was angry, ready to hurl barbed words at him.

"Frank told me what happened." Casey said as she walked in and sat down next to him on the bed, giving him the bottled water.

"Yeah." Britt said, sipping the water. He knew she would've figured it out eventually. "I don't think the cop was a very good shot."

"What were you thinking, you stupid, stupid idiot?!" Casey finally shouted. "You could've been killed!"

"A risk I take every day, Casey. You of all people should know that." Britt said, calmly.

"Still! And you lied to me…you, Kato and Donnie all did!" Casey said, still furious. "You didn't tell me and left me to learn it from Frank!" Tears were welling in her eyes. "The thought of losing you…"

Feeling sorry for her and terrible that he put her through so much, Britt rubbed her eyes dry. "Casey. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry I hurt you." He said. Casey began crying, shivering. Britt struggled to sit up, wincing in pain. Wrapping his right arm around her, he held her close. Casey cried. "I'm sorry."

"Don't scare me like that again." Casey cried.

"I'll try hard not to." Britt said, kissing her. "How about this? The next time I'm a stupid idiot, you'll be the first person I call just so you can tell me how stupid I am."

Casey laughed between hiccups. "Sounds good."

By the time it was midmorning, Kato and Donnie had awoken. Britt had called in with the excuse that he had a bad case of the flu and wasn't feeling good. Casey had gone to get the things from the Sentinel so he could work on it from home.

While Kato was preparing a quick breakfast, Donnie gave Britt a quick check up. "Glad to see you're feeling a little better." She said, checking the IV bag.

"You guys were just what the doc ordered." Britt said, trying to get Donnie to laugh.

She chuckled. "I don't think I need to tell you that you need to be very careful for the next few weeks while that arm heals." Donnie said. "The Hornet is out of action for a while. Doctor's orders. I'll personally tell Kato to knock you out if you put on that costume."

"Loud and clear, Dr. Anders." Britt said.

She bent down to pick up the clothes. "I'll get these to the laundry room." Donnie said. Something fell, clattering on the floor. "Whoop. Clumsy me." Donnie said, bending down to pick up the item. Her face paled and her eyes were wide in shock.

"What is it?" Britt asked, trying to see what it was.

"Where did you get this?" Donnie asked, showing the sharp shuriken that was shaped like a bat. He had forgotten all about it. It must've gotten mixed up in the clothing when Kato tossed them to the floor.

"Oh yeah, last night, somebody was tossing them at us. Scratched up my hand pretty good." Britt said, holding up his bandaged up hand. Donnie's face is still pale. "Why? What's wrong?"

"These are Batarangs. Only one person uses them." Donnie said in a low voice.

"Who?" Britt asked, beginning to fit the pieces together.

Donnie looked at him. "Batman."

A/N: Surprise! It's official, the Bat is in Century City!

And I know I'm going to get tarred and feathered for having the Hornet get shot and nearly killed. But let's face it, I did base it off of Bad Bet on a 459 Silent.