Let's Make a Deal

Dana Mitchell and Kelsey Winslow were sitting in the cramped quarters that served as the kitchen for the Lightspeed Rescue Aquabase.

"Day," Kelsey chirped suddenly, "Why can't we get our lives together?"

Dana looked over the top of her cereal spoon at the yellow ranger, wondering if Kels had hit her head. "What are you talking about?" she quizzed, puzzled.

"Think about it, Dana. Even Joel has a girlfriend. Do you know how sad that is?"

"That's true, I suppose," Dana mused. "And Chad is really trying to work things out with Marina."

Kelsey nodded enthusiastically. "So, a team of rangers, minus blue and green, leaves pink and red and yellow and titanium."

Dana blushed. "Carter and I are friends," she insisted, an emphasis on friends.

Kelsey couldn't argue back, due to the arrival of Carter and Ryan. "Hey guys," she greeted, cheerfully. Dana nodded at them.

"See ya later," Ryan announced, exiting with his mug of coffee. Carter followed, but not before sending a longing glance at the back of Dana's head that Kelsey picked up instantly.

"You see?" Kelsey demanded. "You can't even talk to him."

Dana looked embarrassed. "So what? There are more important things, Kels, than my love life."

"I dunno, Dana, Carter has got it bad. He's a pretty good looking guy and you know you want him," Kelsey teased.

"Pretty good looking?" Dana echoed. "He's…" Her face fell when she realized she'd fallen into Kelsey's trap. Her pale skin turned cherry red.

"Ha!" Kelsey said, triumph in her voice. "I knew you liked him."

"And you don't have a crush on my brother?" Dana shot back, determined that Kelsey drop the whole subject altogether.

The yellow ranger wasn't at all abashed. "Have you seen him?"

Dana rolled her eyes. "Ryan is my brother, Kels, I don't think of him that way."

Kelsey grinned at the pink ranger. "Ah, but I do."

Dana finished up her cereal. "So do something about it," she suggested.

"As soon as you do something about your feelings for Carter."

A sly smile crossed Dana's face. "Alright then. If you're not going to drop it, we should make a bet."

Kelsey looked interested. "I like your words. Keep saying 'em."

"We both have one week in which to do whatever it takes to make Carter and Ryan wake up and smell the coffee. The loser will be the one who gets their guy second. Whoever loses has to wash the zords."

"Agreed," Kelsey said firmly. She stuck out her hand and Dana shook it.

Lightspeed Rescue Lightspeed Rescue Lightspeed Rescue

"Man, what is wrong with us?" Ryan wondered, looking thoughtful as he sipped from his mug.

Carter looked confused. "What are you babbling about?"

"Oh come on," Ryan scoffed. "There were two pretty good looking babes in that kitchen and we didn't even talk to them. I know you're hot for Dana."

Carter turned the same color of his ranger uniform. "Dana is a very attractive woman, I agree, but rangers we shouldn't be involved. A piece of advice you should keep in mind, Mr. I-Have-a-Crush-on-Kelsey."

Ryan shrugged. "I am not afraid of my feelings, unlike a certain red ranger I could mention."

Carter blinked. "I'm not afraid. I just don't want to ruin my friendship with Dana."

His companion snorted. "Yeah right. You may not possess fear when it comes to kicking some demon butt, but you're terrified to talk to Dana."

Carter thought about this for a moment and grudgingly decided Ryan was right, though he wasn't about to admit it.

"Well then it seems we should invest in a little wager. Whoever can successfully ask out the female ranger of their choice first has to come up with a horribly embarrassing stunt, to be done in the main square of the plaza. Be prepared to have pink hair and sing the national anthem, Mitchell," Carter said, smugly.

"Is that honestly the best you can do?" Ryan muttered, but shook the red ranger's hand all the same.

So here it is… Read and Review, it makes me happy!