Tracing Patterns

Everyone has patterns. It could be your morning routine or how you exercise. Everyone including Taz and Up. Ever since Bugworld the galaxy has been pretty calm, there are little upsets but they send new Rangers on those missions to train.

Since there hasn't been any missions to go on, Taz and Up have fallen into a pattern together. Which consists of, getting up early and going to the gym, showering, eating breakfast, then training recruits and eating lunch. Next they hang out with the crew and eat dinner. Finally they watching a movie in Up's room and go to bed to repeat the same thing the next day.

Both were happy and content with seeing each other all day and sticking to their routine. But soon their pattern was going to be broken.

"Hey Taz." Up said with a smile as they met in front of they gym. "Hola, Up." Taz said walking past him through the doors and heading straight to the weights.

"You okay?" "Yeah.. Why wouldn't I be?"

"I don't know…" Up said as he picked up some weights. Taz just stood there with her back to him, not moving.

"Taz." whispered Up as he put his and on her shoulder, " Whats wrong?""My nightmares came back." she barely whispered as she turned around.

Up almost gasped at the pain he saw in her eyes, not to mention she looked like she hadn't slept in days. How could I have not noticed this? Up silently asked himself. He pulled Taz to his chest and wrapped his arms around her. Taz tensed up and then relaxed and hugged him back.

"How long has this been going on?" he asked, his voice slightly muffled by his hair.

"Since last Thursday."

"Six days! How come you didn't tell me? More importantly, why didn't I notice?"

"Its okay, I am tough, remember?" she said with a slight smile as she stepped back.

"…they are worse than last time." a shudder went through her small form.

" Come on, we are going to my room." Up said as he grabbed her hand and started towards his room. He entered his code (20126) and turned the light on.

" Now go put these on." he handed her one of his black T-shirts and some shorts.

"Alright."

As she shut the door he walked over to the DVD player and turned it on. While he was watching the previews Taz walked out and smiled.

"So what are we doing?" Up jumped and turned around, "Relaxing." he sat back against the pillows and patted the spot next to him. Taz sat next to him and they watched the movie for a while. Then, Up put his arms around her shoulders and pulled her close.

Taz was laying her head on his chest and he was running his fingers through her hair.

" You know if it weren't you, I would have killed you." she said smiling up at him.

"I know." Up said with a wink. Taz turned her head away so he couldn't see her blush. He is your best friend, stop reacting like this! she thought.

Neither were paying attention to the movie anymore, Up was relishing in the moment of her in his arms and Taz had started tracing a pattern on his shirt while sorting out her feelings. Eventually her eyes got heavy and she dozed off. Up got the remote and turned off the TV and looked at the time. It was 7:30. Breakfast started at eight and people would start to talk if he and Taz both didn't show up.

So he took out his communicator and sent a message to his team. It said Taz and him were taking the day off, and two of them were going to have to cover their training class. A few minutes later he got a message from Specs saying she and Krayonder were on it.

Might as well sleep too… Up thought as he pulled Taz closer and drifted off to sleep.