ONE:

Moving in the brush, her eyes followed the man. Dressed in black, Gaia barely noticed the others around her. She had at one time been frightened of them. Now it barely phased her.

She swallowed finding the target old and strangely not her main choice. But she wasn't the one who picked the targets. Moving to her right, Gaia knew those around her was men. They were the ones who made the choices...she merely followed.

The attack was flawless. Almost like a football play. In the end, Gaia's hands rested on the wallet before they sprinted off through the park. Stuffing the wallet into the tattered vest pocket, Gaia felt the hockey stick trip her leg making her fall face first into the grass.

Spitting out the leaves, Gaia moaned as she rolled over. A knot was already forming on her head from where she had hit a rock. “What the hell?” she groaned.

“G!”

“G?” the brash voice asked. The hockey stick hit his gloved hand rhythmically. “Code names for you idiots?” Watching them run, Casey glanced down at the woman at his feet. “Hello toots!"

Dark eyes rolling, Gaia pushed herself up before lurching away from Casey. “Toots!” She snapped angrily. Watching him, she stood ready for any attack. She was ready for any attack as her head swooned.

Vision was beginning to fade like a fuzzy television. Her footing stammering she saw the man move forward as she pitched forward the tunnel of vision finally zapping off.

TWO:

Awaking Gaia found herself on the ratty couch. Startled, she knew that she wasn't anywhere remotely familiar in the hideout. Pulling away from the cup, Gaia took several deep breaths as she eyed the cup and the long haired man offering it. “What?”

“It's water.” Casey told her after a moment. “How's your head?”

“Fine!” Gaia snapped before turning to get away. Groaning her head still throbbed as she fell back onto the couch. Feeling Casey's hands push her back down, Gaia didn't fight him. “Where am I?”

“Safe,” Casey returned after handing her the water. He was surprised when she actually took it. “And you are?”

Looking at him from over the rim of the glass, Gaia raised her eyebrows. “Gaia,” she replied. “And you are?”

“Names Casey Jones.”

She nodded slowly before taking a drink of the water. “Your place?” She added. Watching him nod, Gaia felt sick again. “Not the Hilton.”

Casey laughed at her joke slightly. The woman has spunk, Casey would give her that much. But still for her to be running from those punks, Casey didn't exactly know what she was doing. “Mind telling me what you were doing out there?”

Locking eyes with him for a moment, Gaia pulled her legs closer to her before swallowing. “Things.” She returned. “Why'd you high stick me?”

Gaia's question startled him. The woman knew hockey terms, something that pleased him more the anything else. Meant she was a serious fan. “Things.”

“Oh.” She returned after a moment. Standing again, Gaia felt him brace her under the armpits. “Balance isn't the best.” she told him after a moment.

Releasing her after she had gotten her balance, Casey saw the tattoo on her lower back. Something told him she was either a run away, orphan or not one of the good guys. “Where's your family?”

She turned allowing the light to glint off of the nose ring. Casey could be the only one other then those she was an ally too that understood her. If she told him the truth. Her family had kicked her out after her first arrest. The courts refused to emancipate her due to her criminal past and now she was stuck in a stranger's apartment and her family didn't know where she was. “I don't have any.”

Casey stood slowly as he looked over at her. “There's the couch.” He offered. He felt oddly connected with her. After his injury, Casey hadn't been able to get anyone in his life. Save for the thugs that he worked over every night, but they didn't count. “If your interested.”

Hearing the storm clouds roll in, Gaia watched as the rain began to pelt the windows. It was better then finding a hiding place in the rain or possibly leading this Casey Jones to the lair. Perhaps she could slip out in the middle of the night. Even if she didn't the man probably expect her to leave in the morning. Either way, it was a safe place for the night. “For a night.”

THREE:

After watching her sleep, Casey swallowed. He couldn't allow her to remain after this night. But what he didn't know was why she had been out in the park, dressed in black. Eying the tattoo, when she rolled over, Casey noted it was some strange symbol. So he didn't know much about Chinese—at least thats what he believed it to be.

Moving over to the ratty vest she had been wearing, Casey patted it down, hoping to find something on his mysterious companion. Slowly he withdrew the wallet and opened it. It was then that he realized that she wasn't who she seemed to be.

Unable to comprehend the thoughts of that a girl was a member of those that he had been fighting, Casey collected his gear before moving out into the rain. Bashing heads in would do him good, Casey knew that much. And who knew maybe he'd meet with the green freak that he had seen a night or two before. Even though he was a freak, Casey knew the guy was seemingly a good fighter—even though strange.

But he couldn't leave her alone, even if she was asleep. Moving back to her side, Casey used several ties to leash her arm to the couch. It was old and no doubt she was stronger then the old rusty bolts in it, Casey knew it was all that he had to keep her there.

“Sleep tight.” He told her with a forced smile before leaving.

FOUR:

Awaking, Gaia swallowed. Pulling on her arm, Gaia couldn't bring up her right hand. “What the hell?” Her eyes glanced down at the tie holding her before looking up at Casey wielding a cricket bat. Rolling away, Gaia felt her arm pull away from her. “Damn tie!” she grumbled before yanking her arm, digging the tie in deeper.

“Let's talk.”

“Let's not.” Gaia returned before kicking Casey away. Then reaching over she saw a pair of scissors which she used to cut her ties. Standing ready for a fight, she used her foot to kick away the cricket bat. “Thanks for the couch.” she told him after a moment before leaving.

Running, Gaia took the long way around. Who knew who this Casey Jones worked for and even if that was his real name. Turning down the subway, Gaia jumped the last two steps before looking at the others around her. “What?” she snapped after a moment.

Brushing her blonde hair back, Gaia glanced back up the entrance before heading down the walkway. Stealing a cigarette, she lit it before exhaling the smoke. Not only had she lost the wallet, her own team probably thought she had been arrested.

Locking eyes with Tatsu, Gaia didn't flinch as she noticed him looking her up and down. Using his two fingers to indicate that she should play, Gaia believed otherwise. Moving towards the others that were emptying boxes, Gaia sat behind them.

“Where you've been G?”

“Homeless shelter,” Gaia returned before looking at the others. “The street was hot.” She added. Standing she moved towards the boxes and took a knife. “What we got?”

FIVE:

Practice and then prowling.

It was the same response every night. This time she had to prove herself better then anyone else. Still who knew what might happen. Gaia didn't even know if Casey was out patrolling. Swallowing she chewed on her gum before placing a hand on the wet grass to steady herself.

Seeing the signal given, Gaia moved after the target. Reaching, Gaia saw the long brown hair. Going to back away, Gaia felt the hand grasp hers before she landed hard on her back. Lashing her foot up, Gaia hit the hockey mask before her allies came out.

Rolling Gaia saw the hockey stick fly and hit one of her leaders. Ducking as it spun around, Gaia saw the knife. Instinct taking over, Gaia knocked the blade out of his hand. It clattered to the ground before the fist connected with Gaia's temple. Collapsing to the ground, she barely registered the hockey stick hitting her attacker.

Had she just defended her prey? Rolling, she stood fighting the dizziness. Arms grabbing her around the waist, Gaia's feet lashed out knocking away the man who was lunging at her and Casey.

“G!”

Hearing the familiar name, Gaia's fist connected with the one who had called her. “It's Gaia, dumb ass.” She returned before watching the others run. Turning she watched as Casey removed the hockey mask—her doing the same. “Hey.”

“Nice moves.”

“You too.”

Sidestepping as he approached, Gaia touched the broken skin on her eyebrow. “Ready to exact a pound of flesh?”

Casey's eyebrow arched as they moved in a circle. Slowly however he noticed that he would get a step closer then she would move away. After all the girl had taken several blows to the head, nearly perfect grace but she still stumbled occasionally. “Why's a pretty girl like you, out here?”

“Why's an old guy like you out here?”

He stopped at her comment. “Old guy?” he snapped.

“You called me toots.” Gaia returned. Stopping as well, she kicked his cricket stick to him. “Truce.” Seeing him nod, Gaia sat on a bench. There was a strong code not to attack your brother ninjas. In defending Casey Jones, Gaia had broken the rules. She had no home to go to now, thanks to him.

Watching her silently, Casey couldn't exactly fight a girl. She had saved his life from those that she had planned to attack him with. Still she had remained when they had ran. Reaching into his back pocket, Casey swallowed. “You hungry?”

SIX:

Dumping a little salt onto the table, Gaia attempted to balance the container on the salt. Having walked with Casey in silence, Gaia didn't know what exactly to say. She didn't trust him that was for sure. But he was paying for her to have a burger and fries.

“Why are you running with those sleezebags?”

Glancing up at him, Gaia shrugged. “I guess,” she paused before deciding to tell the truth. There was no reason on why she shouldn't. “Because it's all I'm good at.” Seeing Casey look confused, Gaia brushed the salt away before clasping her hands on the table. “Parents were always out of town, I went with a friend and became one of the gang.”

“Now?”

She was silent while the food was being served. Fingering a fry, Gaia was surprised that she was even contemplating eating with him. Eating the fry however, Gaia swallowed it before drinking several gulps of the milkshake. “Parents kicked me out,” Gaia returned after swallowing a bite of the burger, extra cheese but no onions, “Dad said I was to much of a burden to keep bailing from jail.” She paused before lowering the burger. “I move around from Homeless shelter to Homeless shelter.”

“When not with the goons.”

“Duh.” She mumbled through a mouthful of burger. Swallowing, Gaia looked at Casey before lowering the burger. “What's your story?”

Casey shrugged watching her eat. She was seemingly one of the hungriest people he had ever seen. Obviously a life of crime didn't feed anyone. “Saw that things needed to change.” Casey returned. “Use to play hockey until I got injured.” Sipping the drink he had, he watched as Gaia again downed a group of fries. “Chew your food.”

“Huh?” she asked after a moment. Swallowing she slowed her eating before drinking the milkshake. Silence reigned as they finished eating. Relaxing in the booth, Gaia looked at Casey. “What?”

“What about school?” He asked after a moment. “Don't you have school?”

She snorted. “School is for morons.” Gaia returned. “You don't use anything in school in real life.” she added before looking at him. “Seriously, I've learned more-”

“Stealing things?”

“Like family doesn't desert each other.” Gaia returned after a moment. “My parents deserted me.” Gaia informed him. Seeing him roll his eyes, Gaia lowered her milkshake. “What? Come on...they turned their backs on me.”

“Damn the world.”

“I'm not the one dressed like Krueger and beating the crap out of people.”

She was nearly like him. The rage about life, the desire to do something about it, but she had chosen the opposite path. But she had saved him from a knife strike. “Funny,” He stood then tossing the money to pay for the food on the table. “You done?”

Eyebrow raising, Gaia stood and fixed her vest. Lowering her ratty baseball hat onto her head, Gaia swallowed. “Yeah.” She sighed. It was time to try and find some place to sleep. The base wouldn't be welcoming and the shelters would be filled. No doubt she'd be watching her back in case her once friends decided to get some kind of revenge against her.

Turning to leave, Gaia turned back when Casey called her name. “Got a couch.” Casey offered. Giving a small smile, Gaia nodded before jogging to his side.

SEVEN:

Awaking first, Casey nearly hobbled into the living room and crashed on the couch before watching her roll over, still asleep. It was nearly like deja vu with the previous night save for this night he wouldn't simple allow her to slip out the door. From what she had told him showed that she didn't have anywhere to go to.

Collecting the radio, Casey moved slowly to the door before moving to the roof, allowing her to sleep. Sitting on the steps leading back down, Casey began to adjust the radio hoping to find something that would give him some indications on Gaia's old associates. He wasn't sure if she would go back with the others.

Swallowing he took a swig of the drink he had brought before looking over hearing a faint damn. Perhaps she had gotten up. But what he saw was more of a surprise then anything else. It was his green freak friend. Watching him, Casey barely registered the skill in his moves.

But as he watched, Casey saw the figures in black approach the giant turtle. Swallowing, he lowered the bottle before watching them attack. At first he figured that the turtle could handle himself. But watching others join him, Casey knew he had to act. No one could fight that many.

Collecting his things, Casey ran down the stairs before bursting back into his apartment. “You're still here.”

“I was thinking of stealing breakfast but seeing that you have none,” Gaia teased. Seeing his expression, she frowned. “What is it?”

“Friends of yours.”

Eyes widening, Gaia saw him grab his bag and mask before she followed him. “And your going alone?”

“Your a girl.”

“Kicked your ass didn't I?” Gaia asked before seeing the sais. “Wait!” she called before collecting them. Raising an eyebrow she heard the shouts, Gaia raised her eyebrows. “Knock on the door.”

Watching Casey kick the door down, Gaia looked at the large turtles in front of her. Unable to show her surprise, Gaia spun the sai ready for an attack.

“Now what?”

And they could talk! Now Gaia was amused. Glancing at Casey, she leaned against the door frame spinning the sai watching her once allies. She noticed the rhythmic beating of the stick against his palm—it was oddly familiar.

“Now you mind telling me what your doing with my little green pal over there?” Casey asked glancing at the others.

THE END