TITLE: Touch of Sympathy
AUTHOR: always krissy
DISCLAIMER: Power Rangers Dino Thunder belongs to Disney, not me.
AUTHOR'S NOTES: Spoilers for 'Truth and Consequences," and this started out as a short drabble and hit a thousand words... go me! ;) And thanks to Jen for part of the end of the fic. grins
PAIRING(S): Conner/Kira, Kira/Trent
RATING: PG

"For what it's worth, I'm sorry about Trent."

Kira looked up, startled from her thoughts, and offered Conner a half smile when she noticed him watching her. He was standing awkwardly in the doorway of the kitchen, just looking at her, his face a mask devoid of emotions.

"Thanks," she answered. Her reply was barely above a whisper.

She had retreated after hours of scans and theories for rescuing Doctor O. The kitchen of Doctor O.'s house had been her first thought, and there she'd sat for nearly an hour. Just thinking. If only she'd thought about asking Trent how to save Doctor O. before he'd run away from her. If only she had caught on to Trent's strange behavior in the first place. If only she was smarter, like Hayley, so she could be of more use. If only... If only! It made her want to cry, and Conner seemed to notice her expression.

"Don't beat yourself up over this," Conner furiously strode into the kitchen. He pulled out a chair from the table and threw himself into it. "Making yourself crazy over this won't help you, or Doctor O., and will just make you a weaker link for us. We need you, Kira." There was a long pause and he touched her hand softly, "Look... I understand--"

"No, you don't!" Kira snatched her hand away from him, and her eyes turned dark with emotion, "You don't understand. You didn't see someone you love in pain and unable to help him! Trent can't even help himself, and I just sit here, not doing a thing but sulk! Doctor O.'s trapped, Trent ran away because he can't stop the impulses, you were hurt... And me? No... Just forget it!"

"You love him?" During her outburst, Conner's eyes had widened to saucers. She... loved him? For some reason, that revelation made the world shattered. Conner had never really realized how much Kira had liked the evil White Ranger. Sure, he knew she thought he was cute, but love? "You barely know him! And he's evil! Geez, Kira, you sure know how to pick them."

"He can't help being evil!" she snapped. Why did he and Ethan keep insisting on that Trent chose that path?

"Well, you don't just waltz into a random dark lair and pick something up because it looks cool and say, 'I should become an evil Power Ranger!' because you 'can't help it!'" he snapped back.

"Maybe he was kidnapped," she suggested. Her voice was tinged with sarcasm, "Not like that isn't unheard of! These guys aren't that bright to try new stuff, you know."

"Oh, come off it Kira," he scoffed, "Just admit Trent isn't as perfect as you thought. You saw his father. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree."

"Why are you saying these things?" Kira demanded, "You act like all those weeks of friendship meant nothing to you!"

"It was a TRICK!" Conner's voice thundered around the room, and Kira shrank backwards, shocked. "God, Kira, can't you even see what is right in front of you? Can't you tell the difference between betrayal and loyalty? He's been lying from the start -- getting to know you so you'd fall pray to his plans. At this point, wouldn't surprise me if his father was Mesagog!"

Kira ignored the jibe at Trent's father, and her brows furrowed in confusion, "Forget Trent for a second -- 'difference between betrayal and loyalty?' What are you talking about, Conner?"

Alarm flittered across his face for a brief moment before settling into nothing. "Don't worry about it, Kira. A mere slip of the tongue. I'm sure you understand those, since you're friends with Trent and all."

Eyes narrowing in annoyance, Kira forged ahead. "Like I said, forget Trent. What. Did. You. Mean."

Blowing out a long hiss of breath, Conner tipped his chair backwards, staring at the ceiling. "Just..." He refused to look at her, "I'm... I..."

"Spit it out."

Annoyed at her tone, he finally glanced at her sullenly, "I like you, okay? But you're too busy wrapped up elsewhere to notice. I've never hurt you, and I never would, but you don't see that. You can't, not when you're blinded to the obvious. Trent's bad news, Kira, but you just can't see it like I do."

She stared at him. "Did Ethan put you up to this?" she asked, finally. It was hysterical. Conner McKnight liked her? He loved to pick on her, and then the next minute he'd ignore her, and then the next he'd pester her with a million useless questions. And don't forget about all the time he'd just sit there, talking to her about himself. In the few weeks they'd been friends, he had really made many impressions on her. And not to mention the attitude he'd picked up about Trent when he'd found he was the evil ranger they were fighting.

Conner shrugged, "Do I look like the type to kiss and tell, if he knew?"

"Yes," Kira replied instantly, "but it isn't like you've ever kissed me, so bad example."

"Whatever," he muttered. "Look, whether you believe me or not isn't the issue. The issue is that you are too blinded by your feelings to think clearly. Just... stay away from Trent. At least until we rescue Doctor O. Please?"

Kira was at a loss, still reeling from his revelation. "I guess," she relented, "until we help Doctor O." He nodded, relieved, and she spoke again, "Are you serious, though? You like me?"

There was a moment of silence, before he smiled jokingly, "What? Me like a wannabe singer like you? Are you kidding?"

Kira sighed, but felt some of the tension in her body leave, "Well, that's good. I wouldn't want a jock like you liking me anyway." Before he could usher them back downstairs to help find Doctor O.'s cure, she added as an afterthought, "Heck, I wouldn't want ANY jock liking me."

"Neither would I, Kira, neither would I."

Kira shook her head. Whether or not Conner had been telling the truth, Kira was glad at least one person of their makeshift family cared that much about her.

===
End.