Disclaimer: The characters of Casey Jones, April O'Neil, TMNT, Splinter, Gabrielle, and Shadow do not belong to me, and belong to Mirage Comics. This is purely non-profit and just for fun. ooh, sounds like an official disclaimer don't it
note: This is the story of Shadow Jones, well not really, but kinda. Anyways, it's quite tweaked from the way it really happened, but that's life. This is how she came about in my U, because if you didn't notice I really don't base my stories on existing forms of TMNT media. It takes place when the Turtles are roughly fourteen, only knowing Casey Jones and April for a short period of time. If this story sounds familair it is one of the few remnants left from my old pen-name Misterfooch, this is the beginning of a new world with continuity that makes sense again...hopefully.
Narrator's note: You know how sometimes the world likes to throw obstacles in your way. How sometimes Fate, or Destiny, or Writers just like to throw everything they possibly can at you, just to see how you handle it?
Most of the times they're simple problems, easily overcome by simply standing strong, or fighting for what you believe in. I mean, you might get banged up a little, but in the end it's all for the best.
And then there are those times where life is so hard. Where every time you get a glimpse at the future, everything is all screwed up. It seems that all the good we do now means absolutely nothing. Mind you those futures often have happy endings or what not, but things won't ever stay simple. Someone will come along and destroy that, you know, it gives 'em somethin to do. For times like that there is only one escape, at least for me anyway. Go get so drunk off my rocker that I can't remember anything that happened.
Previously on TMNT: Casey Jones attempted to push his relationship with April O'Neil a bit further than she was willing. Needless to say things ended poorly and that was something Casey not expecting.
Beer No Good
Long ago I had problems, I was a little too stubborn, and kinda sorta jumped inta somethin I wasn't prepared for.
Well actually it wasn't that long ago, but still it sure as hell wasn't recent.
There was this girl see, pretty red-head though technically people just assumed she was red-head, but if you look at some of the pictures taken by certain Misters Laird and Eastman, you'll see her with black, curly hair, but that point is moot, and besides red hair is hot . She was tough, smart, and a damn nice girl. Definitely not my type, but I figgered I'd try anyways. We'd been through lotsa stuff together so I just naturally assumed she liked me. I mean, how could you not like a tough, good-lookin guy like me.
Well, we was out at my grandma's old farmhouse in Northampton, you know one of those town's like the town outside your town, and it seemed the time. There she was just sittin underneath an old weeping willow tree man that's a pretty tree , so I went over to talk. Lookin at her I just kinda smiled, tryin to be cute. She just looked at me, and asked what I wanted.
Not one to be insulted by such inquiries see I know some smart words, so ha I just sat down next to her. You know how girls like to play coy, I think that's what she was doin. After a few minutes of silence I looked at her, leaning my head in close...
SLAP
Sudden stingin sensation filled my face. Pulling back I looked at the girl in surprise, "What was that for?"
"You, Casey Jones, you're a good man, when you wanna be. But if you so much think for one second that I, of all people would have anything to do with the likes of you. You are sadly mistaken."
A compliment and an insult, I wish I could do that. Standing up, look of shock across my face, I turned around and walked back to the farmhouse. I mean, I know we hadn't known each other that long, but damn. Then it dawned on me, I was rejected. Me? Casey Jones? Rejected?
Had to be a mistake. I'll give her some time to cool down, maybe I'll have better luck later. So like I said, I'm not one to take too kindly to being insulted, I went in the house to cool down a bit. Course the only other person in the house was a turtle-friend o'mine, met 'em a few months back. Kicked his ass, had to show him who was tougher.
"Yeah right you didn't kick my ass, you're delusional Case."
"Hey quit reading my narration, this is my story not yours."
Like I said I kicked his ass. After that we became pretty good compadres, I mean he was like 14 me 22, but we both had our fair share anger and rage. So, we got along pretty good.
"Hey, Raph, wanna go out?"
"Out? You're kidding me?"
"I mean come on, a couple a lookers like us we shouldn't be sittin around out in the country like a.."
"Like a coupla of mutated reptiles?"
"Yeah, I mean I could pass, but the fine people of Northampton might not take to kindly to your appearance."
Once again more plans killed, I need some normal friends. Anyway I had a little stress to work out, and believe it or not, there aren't a whole lotta faces that need bustin in this town. Course, there's bound to be some action a few hours from here, I need to get away anyway. Loading up in the old beat up Chevy, that I call my truck, I start the road trip.
What I do? I just drive, then drive some more, and then a little more. I drove for what seemed like hours, finally arriving in a somewhat decent sized town, not NYC but a bit bigger than Northampton.
There it was, a small club, one of those God-awful, stuck in the 80's type joints. Just the place to sit down for a drink. And then another drink, and then another drink. After a few more, I got a little bit buzzed.
"So you see, it was this girl, gorgeous eyes, smart, snazzy dresser. Oh, and this beautiful red-hair...in fact you kinda look like her...with the hair."
A large, bald black man, with one on those five o'clock shadow beards looked at me and just shook his head.
Out the corner of my eye I notice a couple of guys walking out with a couple of girls. Nothin out of the usual, but somethin seemed a little off. I was drunk, but not that drunk, probably be in my best interest to check things out.
As I followed them outside, I found out why this felt a little...off. The two guys, each pinned one of the girls on the wall. I could see what there intentions were, some people just make complete asses of themselves when they get drunk.
I staggered towards them, lookin like a drunk, actin like I had no idea something was amiss smart word again .
"Excuse me, you fellas seen my truck, it's old and rusty?"
"Back off fella, you don't want none of what's goin on here."
"You see my good fellow, that's where you are wrong. These lovely ladies here don't want any. Me on the other hand, I'm all yours blue eyes," flashing a grin, I wink at the guys.
"That's it, you're mine."
This time a big ol smile came across my face, "Goongala, ass wipe."
He came at me runnin like he was gonna knock me out. I think he wanted me to be scared of him. That's funny. Why is that guys like this always come at you one at a time? I mean honestly, if they both attacked at the same time they're life expectancy would probably stand a chance of doubling. Plus it would give me way more of a challenge. Needless to say, even bein a little drunk I trounced both those "tough guys," in a matter of seconds. I'd go into explainin how it happened, but it'd be a waste a time, seein as it involved two punches and maybe a kick for good measure.
Both the girls thanked me as I walked...staggered...back into the bar. It turns out I was a bit drunker than I though. But after that I think I deserved another drink. This time I found a seat by a blonde girl. Looked like one of those low self esteem kinda girls. She of course had no reason to be, I mean I ain't too fond of blondes, but even I thought this one was a looker. She gave me kinda sideways glance at first.
"What?"
"Oh, I'm sorry. It's nothing."
"You sure?"
"Well it's just you look kinda bad... Not that you look bad, actually you look quite nice...I'm gonna just going to finish my drink."
She kinda turned away, and went back to her drink. Course I was intrigued after hearin what she had said, "Thanks."
"For thinking you look bad or good."
"It's your decision. Name's Casey Jones."
"Gabrielle, my friends call me Gabe, or at least they would if I had any. Oh God, I sounded desperate didn't I? Umm..You come here often?"
"First time, needed a little breather. I had a rough coupla days."
"I understand. I prefer the cool, hard to get into bars, but I kinda can't get in. Oh well, this place isn't the greatest, it's not like I'm gonna meet the man of my dreams in this place. Where most of the guys here are only interested in one thing."
"Hey now, we ain't all like that. People can sometimes surprise you."
"Look at me, I sound like such a hypocrite. Saying how much this place sucks, but coming here every night."
"Well, Gabe," okay I was tryin to be smooth now, "what are you looking for?"
"Depends on how much I've had to drink... Good job, making myself sound like a drunken slut. Slut is better than hypocrite though, right? Looks like I'm moving up."
"Harsh on yourself aintcha?"
"That's me self pitying, hypocrite, slut. So Mister Jones, what was your question?
"What are you looking for?"
From that point on me and this Gabrielle girl just kinda sat around at the bar, both finishing off a few more drinks. Turns out we had a lot in common, well not really a lot, I mean she didn't hang around with mutated turtles, fights Ninjas, and act as a hockey mask wearin vigilante, but otherwise we'd both had it rough.
Turns out she had just come off a bad relationship, as opposed to my coming off a non-existent relationship. Amazing how truthful people get when they get a little, actually a lot of alcohol in their system.
Eventually it was time to head out the bar. There was no way I'd make it home so I asked Gabe if there were any hotels or anything around. She said that she wouldn't allow me to stay in one of those that night, told me she had an extra room at her place, so she called up a cab.
As we went out the door, I noticed a little sickly feelin in my stomach. I could barely walk straight so Gabe was kinda shoulderin my weight. Then it happened, in that one instant that feelin in my stomach hit hard. Fallin on my face I began to vomit, now Casey Jones usually don't get sick off a few beers, but this time I couldn't help it. I actually think some, more like most of it landed on Gabrielle. Now most girls would take that as a major turn off and just leave a fella in the middle of the street. Not Gabrielle, she looked over at me, kinda laughed, and once again helped me up. The cab got there and the next thing I remember was the next mornin.
I woke up, surprisingly in clean clothes, also felt like I had showered and everything. That was kinda a weird way to wake up. Then over to my left I saw somethin else that surprised me. Gabrielle was laying next to me, half dressed. That instant I realized one thing, one of the greatest epiphanies of my life. Beer Bad.