Gregory Karn A

Title: What the Shell?
Author: Jonathan
Chapter: 2
Rating: PG-13/Teen
Category: Buffy/Xander, Faith/Casey
Spoilers: Up until mid season 4 of Buffy. After Oz left but before Tara. In TMNT, general knowledge. Characters are drawn from cartoon series, movies, or maybe comics.
Summery: The turtles were contacted by Casey about a new problem. They're back with the Scoobs in toe. It's Manhtattan Half Shellverse style.
Disclaimer: Buffy is owned by Whedon, Fox, UPN. TMNT is owned by Eastman, Laird, Mirage Studios
Author Notes: Personally, I never thought I'd return to this. But when a friend suggested I come back to this series, I actually thought it wasn't a bad idea. We talked, and the idea wasn't a bad one.
Oh, and this concludes the Half Shellverse Trilogy.
Sadly, Cobra's fic, Undercover Reporter, which was set in this universe isn't canon. He never finished it and when I thought I wouldn't come back, it didn't matter. Undercover Reporter was a good fic in its own right. A good read too.
Previous installments can be found here: /Series-69
--

"April!"

She was soon rewarded to see Casey closing the refrigerator door and turning around. "When did you get here?"

She smiled, "Just got here, Casey." The reporter replied. "You got to be careful, you know it's not safe to leave your door open."

He grinned, "That's a product of the demon attack last night, April." He went to the sink and washed his hands quickly. :"You should of seen it. It was beautiful. Poetry in motion."

She smirked, "Only you would think fighting was beautiful, Case."

He shook his head, "Not entirely true, April. Faith, Splinter, and all the guys do." He then joined his friend by the door that she walked by. "And I was about to fix the door anyway."

She nodded, "Did the guys contact you? They got in last night."

Jones answered, "Raph called. Xander's here too."

"Does Faith know?" April asked.

He sighed, "She knows Xander's coming. She doesn't know about the others."

"You should tell her."

He ran a hand down the back of his head, "Faith's been through hell, April. If she knew about Buffy and the others, she'd freak."

"Better she freaks now then later."

Casey was about to say something when a new voice interjected, "Freak about what?"

He glanced at her and sighed. Casey looked at April who gave him a look that he knew too well. Her boyfriend gave her a smile, trying to ease her sudden discomfort.

"You might want to sit down."

Faith noted the tone of his voice, and knew he was serious. Nodding, she said, "I take it's bad news."

April added, "Depends on how you look at it."

That being said, the three headed for the living room.

Faith slumped into the couch and let out a breath that she was holding. She soon felt the weight of Casey as he joined her. April sat in the free chair that was to the right of the couch.

"So what's the deal?"

Casey patted his right knee, giving him the strength that he was hoping for. "You remember that I contacted the guys, right?"

She nodded, "Right."

"Well…"

Faith smirked, "That Raphael guy isn't going to hump my leg."

April joked, "Mikey might."

He smirked, "Kidding aside, Xander isn't the only one who came to New York."

She took a breath, "B came didn't she?"

He ran his fingers down the back of his head, "And the others, yeah."

Truth be told, the thought of seeing the Scoobies wasn't high on her to do list. That was the part of the reason why she wanted to get out the Dale. And it took her a long time to get close to anyone after the mayor died.

But if she didn't run into Casey during a late night patrol and even after a small fight, they both ended up in the hospital. They were stuck and so they ended up talking. And after the chat-fest, he ended up asking her out. Even though the chat-fest didn't get started as well as it ended, but it was something she needed.

And even though she liked her new lifestyle. Part of her wanted to make things right with the Scoobs. They did try to help her, but she just didn't know how to act. The whole Sunnydale time was a lifestyle she wasn't used to. It was different from her life in Boston and different throughout her past.

Casey was her one constant that remained, so she knew what she had to do.

"I'll do it."

--

"We have news Mr. Karn."

Gregory Karn, a tall well built brunette man swiveled around within his office chair. A pair of black brimmed glasses rested upon his nose. His silvery gray eyes glanced upon the door that opened within moments.

"Come in, Ms. Samson." Karn addressed his secretary.

The thin redheaded woman nodded, "Thank you, Sir." She brought him a metallic container. A red circle sat atop of the box. A thin circle wrapped around the circle.

He gestured his hand, "Have a seat."

Donna Samson smiled at her boss and did as suggested. "We have news, Mr. Karn."

"Oh?" Karn asked, suddenly.

"This came for you."

Karn got to his feet and took the box that Samson provided him. He grinned, "Thank you, Donna." He looked at the box and noticed a note attached. Opening it, he read it thoroughly. "Excellent."

He sat back down in his chair and rested the box on his desk. "Is there anything else Donna?"

His secretary looked down at her lap, glanced at a book, and then back at him, "Um your 4 o'clock appointment was moved to 3."

Karn grinned, "Thank you." He penciled the changed date on his calendar. Gregory smiled at the young woman, "How's the family, Donna?"

She smiled, "They're good, Mr. Karn. I…"

She was cut off when Gregory gave her a palm signal. The reason being was that Gregory Karn was on the phone. He placed his hand on the receiver to block the receiver. "I'm sorry, Donna. I would normally let this go to the machine, but the caller ID told me that this was someone I was waiting on."

"That's alright, Mr. Karn." She knew he was a busy man. Donna got to her feet and said her farewell, leaving her boss to the phone.

--

Mistakes.

Humility.

A creature walked down the steps of the New York Subway station. He wrapped his trench coat tightly around his body and lowered his fedora. He kept into the shadows, and knew where he had to go.

He wanted forgiveness.

He wanted to stat over and make things right.

Too much heartache was caused and now this was his chance at redemption. He only hoped that his former enemies would forgive him and give another chance.

But there was only one way he could make things work. And that was communication. He only hoped that they'd give him a chance to change.

He let out a sigh and headed toward his destination.

--

Xander Harris opened his eyes to welcome the new day. He yawned briefly and wiped the sleep from his eyes. Pulling into a seated position, he noticed Giles was already unpacking some books and placing them into the room safe.

"Morning, Giles." Xander said with yawn.

The Watcher gave him a warm smile, "Good morning, Xander." He placed a book in the safe. "I trust you had a good night's rest."

Xander nodded as uncovered his sheets. Getting to his feet, he stretched. "It was fine. Allot better than the basement."

Giles had to agree, "I would rather hope so." Glancing at the wall, he added, "I would suggest that after you get ready for the day, contact the Turtles."

Xander grinned as he grabbed the Turtle-Com that was lying on his nightstand. "Already ahead of you." He grabbed a pair of boxers, shorts, and headed for the bathroom.

Rupert grinned at his young friend. He took a book out of the safe and opened to a marked page. He left it open on his bed and went to the edge of his bed where a suitcase was resting. He opened the luggage and began rummaging looking for items that he needed.

A knocking was heard.

He was about to close the door when he heard, "It's me, Giles."

"Ah…" Rupert said in relief. He left his bed and went to the door. Opening it, he was presently surprised to see Buffy. "Good morning, Buffy."

"Morning, Giles." He gave her room to come inside. "Xander around?"

He nodded, "He's in the bathroom."

She nodded, "Fun." Buffy sat down at the foot of Xander's bed, "We hear from the Turtles yet?"

"Xander's calling them now." Giles replied as he went back to his suitcase.

"Sooner we meet up with the Turtles, the sooner we can find Faith, take her back to Sunnydale, hurt her, and move on with our lives."

He gave her a look, "Buffy…"

She asked innocently, "We could hurt her first then take her to Sunnydale."

He smirked at her quip. "We do not know what we are up against." Giles took off his glasses and cleaned them as usual. "You almost should remember that there is another issue that's going on. The Turtles' friend, Mr. Jones, said that help was needed. We should look into that situation as well."

"Giles, I…"

Buffy immediately lifted her head, and was soon rewarded to see a sight she hasn't seen in a long time. Her eyes widened. There, in the her frame of vision stood a half-naked Xander Harris. She couldn't help but stare.

He grinned, chuckled slightly, and said, "Didn't know you were here, Buff." He smirked, "I never wanted you to see me in the buff, Buff." Xander immediately grabbed an undershirt from a drawer and pulled it on.

When he did, he looked at Buffy who kept staring at him. He grinned, "Take a picture, Buffy. It'll last longer."

She blinked a few times and looked away briefly. "Giles, I was hoping you had an extra razor head, mine just broke."

"I have an extra one in my toiletry case, Xander."

"Thanks." He went for the door, "Oh, and make sure the Buffster alright." That being said, he disappeared into the bathroom.

The sound of the door closing snapped Buffy out of her funk. She gave a sheepish grin, tossed some hair behind her ear. "I think I better go check on Willow."

She got to her feet and went for the door. "Tell Xander that we'll meet at the hotel restaurant before we meet up with the Turtles." Not waiting for a response, Buffy walked out of the hotel room and went for her room.

--

"We gotta move!"

"Huh? Why?" Donny asked his brother.

Leonardo replied, "Casey just called. His apartment just hit hard!"

"Is he alright?" Mikey asked with concern.

"The Foot and trashing the place. C'mon!" Leonardo hollered. "Xander knows what's going down. We'll pick him and his friends on the way."

"We better get a move on!" Raphael announced as he grabbed his sai. "I ain't going to let the Zeppo have all the fun."

"The Turtle Van's outside." Donny told them as he watched all his brothers, sensei, and Usagi headed out of the sewer.

--

The frequency changed.

He sighed.

Changing the frequency, he soon found a clearer crisper voice.

The original thought was that the lair was the best place to find his goal, but they were on the move. Danger was lurking. At least that was what the sound of the communicators was transpiring.

The home of Casey Jones was where he needed to be.

--

"I really hate these guys!" Faith announced as she was thrown into the wall. She shook her head after to clear it. Turning around, she launched back into the fray.

She slammed her shoulder into one of the Foot Soldiers. "Where the guys?"

Casey walloped his golf club on the back of one their heads. "They'll be here soon. Xander's on the way too."

"This isn't what we need right now, Casey." April said as right crossed against a young woman. "And since when did these Foot Soldiers starting working with young girls." She followed through with a left kick.

"That's what I want to know." Faith growled as she grabbed one of the men in black and tossed him toward one of the women. "I will say this though, it's like I keep fighting Buffy."

"Nice to know you haven't forgotten about me, Faith."

She turned to the door and spotted Buffy leading the way of the Scoobies, followed in toe by the Turtles.

"Let get this party started, dudes." Michealangelo announced in triumph as he took out his grappling hook, circled it above his head, and threw it at one of the Foot soldiers. When it wrapped his torso, Mikey smiled, "Cowabunga!"

He then flung the soldier to who April was fighting. "Watch out, April!"

"Thanks, Michealagelo." The reporter replied.

The Scoobies, Turtles, and their friends fought with all their might. Whoever they were fighting was silent. The only sound was the clanging of weapons. Katanas chorused in chimes, bo staffs whacked each other, nun chucks swung in patters, sais and kamas were thrown and blocking hits, and fists were flown.

Everything was in chaos and warrior's haze was breaking out in waves. The teachings of both Rupert Giles and Hamato Yoshi were truly shining.

Unaware to the rest of the melee, a Foot Solder tapped a shoulder of one of the women. She looked at him and nodded. They went to the next room. The fighting was the perfect camouflage for their plan to work.

The young woman took out a box that had a red button on top of it. She looked at the solder and nodded in return. She pressed the button and the room started to shake. They returned to the fight and light started to shine on the ground.

"It's a trap!" Leonardo hollered.

"Get out, my sons." Splinter said moments before a Foot Solder whacked him on the head.

"Master Splinter!" Raphael cried.

"I got him, Raph." Xander said as he headed for the door.

They didn't know what was going on, but between the constant fighting and the floor glowing, something was due to happen. Problem was they didn't know how they were going to escape.

The wall suddenly crumbled from the side. Everything stopped when someone stomped into the room.

They watched in surprise as the creature started helping the Turtles.

The Foot Soldiers and young women attacked full force at the new visitor, but the only thing that they were able to do was tear off the trench coat the creature was wearing. He roared in anger. "Get away from them!" The creature yelled.

The new hole allowed an escape. The creature took Splinter from Xander. "I got him. Get out!"

He looked at his friends and headed for them, but the creature stopped him. "Get out!" He took his tail and flung Xander out of the room.

Moments later, Buffy, Casey, Faith, April, and Donatello were thrown out of the room. Before the creature could help anyone else, the room filled with bright yellow light and the creature was lucky enough to escape before the light faded.

He looked out the hole and his eyes widened when everyone disappeared.

Xander got his feet and inspected the room, "What happened? Where is everyone?"

The creature turned to Donatello and Splinter. "I'm sorry."

Donatello for the first time looked at his savior.

"Leatherhead?"

--

TBC