AN:  Another short chapter, sorry.  Oh, it was pointed out by a concerned citizen (Psychodelic Barfly) that I negleted to disclaim my lack of ownership of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles last chapter.  I own them not, nor the phrase 'heroes on the half-shell.'  This chapter, I don't own Jeep or Don Knotts.

            Back in Bayville, the frenzied attempt to raise money for accommodations and food began.  Lance expanded on the loose change idea: if the ground they stood on was given a good solid shake, payphones and vending machines would give up their coinage.  Meanwhile Pietro made a daily circuit of the area, scooping up any and all loose change, the occasional dropped bill, and once cleaned out the fountain at the local mall.  Now all that was left was to roll the damn coins and find someone who'd take them off their hands.

            Pietro had just finished off another roll of pennies when the phone rang.

            "Coroners," he answered.  "You kill 'em, we guess how."

            "Very funny Quickie," Rogue said on the other end.

            "Heyyy!  How's my girl?" Pietro asked.

            "Not so hot," Rogue replied.  "There's some weird shit going on in this town, sugar."

            "Are you all right?"  Pietro said, his blood running cold.  RogueintroubleRogueintrouble…

            "Yeah, we got into a fight, you're never gonna believe this, but… there's vampires here.  And demons, apparently.  And they've never heard of mutants.  One of the vampires touched me, it made me kinda sick.  I know I sound crazy but… maybe you shouldn't come here.  Something's not right."

            Had it been anyone else, Pietro would have laughed his perfect ass off, but Rogue practically sounded gray, and she'd never suggest that he not come to see her unless something was really wrong.  Pietro frankly didn't give a damn if it was vampires, werewolves, or Don Knotts in a gorilla suit, something was upsetting his girl.

            "I'll be right there," Pietro said.  "I can be there by tomorrow afternoon if I start running now."

            "Baby, it's okay, you don't have to.  I mean, the others from the institute are here…"

            "Yeah, Summers and clowns, no offense, love of my life, but that doesn't inspire an enormous amount of confidence.  If Alvers and I leave tomorrow, we can be there by Wednesday."

            "Pietro, I don't think it's a good idea, these kids we met, they say this place is on something called a Hellmouth."

            "Not up for discussion, stripes," Pietro replied sternly.  "Either you come home or I come to you, and I know you can't come back yet."

            "Not gonna stop you am I?"

            "Not a chance."

            "Be careful.  Call me when you get in."
            "I love you.  Don't you dare let anything happen to you."

            "I won't sugar.  I love you."

            Pietro hung up the phone.

            "We need to leave, Lance, tomorrow." 

            Lance looked up. 

            "What's going on?" he asked.  Pietro swallowed hard.

            "Wherever that bald idiot sent our girlfriends, it's not good, cause apparently they call it the Hellmouth.  Get in the car, we're turning that change in."

            "We can't do it here, they'll be on the look out after all those vending machines came up empty."

            "Then we drive down to Connecticut, take the train from there."

            "What about the Jeep?" Lance asked.  Pietro ran upstairs and when he came back down, Todd was in his grip, toothbrush in mouth, in mid-stroke.

            "Something I can help you with, speedy?" he mumbled. 

            "We're going to Connecticut, then Alvers and I are going on a little trip, we need you to drive the Jeep back.  We'll explain on the way."

            "I can't drive, yo."

            "Dammit.  TABBY!"

            "WHAT!"

            "GET DOWN HERE, WE NEED YOU!"

            Tabby slid down the rickety banister, landing in the living room.  Pietro grabbed her by the shoulders the second she landed.

            "Tabby, Lance and I have to go to California, we're going to Connecticut first, we need you to drive the Jeep back home."

            "Um… okay, how come we don't get to go to Cali?"

            "Because we only have two tickets and there's something weird going on in that stupid town where that stupid bald man sent our girlfriends and Lance and I have to get there fast."

            "Okay, what's in it for me?"

            "Tabby!!"  Pietro snarled.

            "Seriously!  I might have had plans."  Tabby said, sticking her lower lip out.  Pietro's eyes narrowed.

            "Did you?"

            "Well no, but-"

            "What do you want?" he asked, fed up that he'd already wasted thirty second debating this.

            "Um… lemme think…"

            "No thinking!  Just ask for something, dammit!"

            "Umm… green sweater!"

            "What?  What green sweater?"  Pietro snapped.  "Oh.  That green sweater.  Fine, you heartless bitch, you get my favorite green sweater that brings out the blue in my eyes.  Just be ready to drive tomorrow or I'll beat you to death with all our change."

            Tabby rolled her eyes and walked back upstairs, muttering,

            "You guys are so god damned weird."

            "You ain't kiddin', yo," Todd said, brushing his teeth.