OLD FEELINGS

AUTHOR'S NOTE/DISCLAIMER

Post "Lovestruck Rangers" and resides in my "What Wes Had to Fight For" reality. Power Rangers belongs to Haim Saban Nickelodeon. I only own the plot.

"Hey, has anyone seen Wes?" Jen asked. Her teammates, Lucas, Katie, and Trip shook their heads.

"No. Not for a couple of days," Trip replied.

"Has anyone else noticed how edgy he's been ever since we fought Contemptra?" Lucas asked.

"Yeah," the others nodded. Jen frowned. She had to admit, she was a little worried. Wes definitely wasn't acting like himself. Ever since defeating Contemptra, he had been edgy, like Lucas had said. He jumped at every little thing, and the previous day, he had flinched when Katie had touched him. I wonder what's going on. I just hope whatever it is, it doesn't affect his ability to be a Ranger, she thought. Meanwhile, in a more run-down part of Silver Hills, Wes had entered an establishment known as Dino's and was currently punching and kicking a punching bag furiously. Presently, an older Caucasian man with black hair, brown eyes, and a muscular build approached him.

"You wanna talk about it, Kiddo?" he asked.

"No. I just gotta hit," came the response.

"Okay." He watched as the young man continued to whale on the bag. Oh, Kiddo. What happened? he wondered. As the hits continued, Wes' mind flashed back. A young Wes struggled against the man's hold.

"Hold still, boy,' the man growled, grabbing his wrists. However, Wes continued to struggle. "Hold still, or I swear you'll get it worse," the man threatened. Wes' eyes widened and he immediately stopped struggling. Wes' eyes clouded. Twelve-year old Wes had just slipped his shirt off when his bedroom door opened. He sighed heavily.

"Jack…no. you promised," he reminded. The only response was approaching footsteps and a hand slipping around his waist. Wes kicked the bag again. Wes and Angelique walked through the streets.

"I don't know how things got so confusing. Of course I like you best," she told him. With a pained grunt he slammed his fists on the bag. "Of course I like you best. I like you best. I like you best. I like you best." He grunted in time with the hits.

"Wes! Wes! Wes! Wes!" Suddenly, he was aware of someone pulling him away and holding him. He looked up to see Dino, the owner.

"What happened, Kiddo?"

"She took away my consent! She brainwashed me!"

"Who?"

"This-this monster-that Ransik guy had. If hadn't been for the Power Rangers…" Dino's eyes clouded as the boy choked back a sob.

"Oh, Wes," he murmured.

"It just brought everything back, man. I couldn't fight. I just couldn't."

"I know. I know." Dino made shushing sounds as Wes began to cry. The Red Ranger reveled in Dino's warmth as the older man held him. This was a side that he could never show to the other Rangers. They wouldn't understand. They all just thought he was some pretty little rich boy. But Dino-he knew the real him. He could be honest. When he was with Dino, he could deal with the old feelings: shame, fear, anger, hate…and no one would judge him.

THE END